Family history of epilepsy

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Family history of epilepsy

Adults with epilepsy may wonder if their children will also develop epilepsy. Whether a family history of epilepsy (genetics) increases a person's risk of developing the disorder partly depends on what type of epilepsy the family member has had.

Several types of childhood epilepsy may be passed from parent to child. These include benign focal childhood epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, which have no other known cause.

If you developed epilepsy as a result of a head injury, stroke, or other clear causes, you probably will not pass the condition on to any children you have. However, certain genetic factors may have made you more likely to develop epilepsy after the injury, stroke, or other cause; and you might pass on these genetic factors to your child.

A child of a parent with epilepsy may or may not develop the disorder. Family history is a risk factor, but many people with epilepsy have children who never develop it. Research on the role of genetics in epilepsy continues, but knowledge about the issue is still quite limited.

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Author	Monica Rhodes
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Theresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical Pharmacist
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Last Updated	October 29, 2007

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Last updated:	October 29, 2007
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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