But in people with epilepsy, seizures can be triggered by something as minor as lack of sleep or the flickering of a light. What causes epilepsy in all cases is not known. In some people it results from brain damage from head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, meningitis, encephalitis, or measles. Lack of oxygen to the fetus during pregnancy, labor or delivery may cause epilepsy to develop during childhood. Brain damage incurred by a stroke is a common cause of epilepsy in people over 65.
Epilepsy can first appear at any age, although three-quarters of all cases surface during childhood.
A person with epilepsy can have more than one type of seizure. Accurate diagnosis of the specific types of seizures is critical to determining appropriate therapy. If only the portion of the brain controlling movement of a limb is involved, that limb may tremble or jerk uncontrollably. If the affected brain area spreads, more of the body may begin to move erratically. If the brain section governing hearing or vision is involved, the person may experience auditory or visual hallucinations.