Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures, but there are a number of different disorders and conditions that can cause seizures.
Causes of seizures in newborns include:
- Lack of oxygen during birth
- Intracranial bleeding
- Low levels of sugar, calcium, magnesium, or other electrolytes in the blood
- Malformations of the brain
- Metabolic problems
- Maternal drug use
Causes of seizures in infants and young children include:
- Fever (febrile seizures)
- Infections
- Brain tumor (rare)
Causes of seizures in children and adults include:
- Congenital conditions
- Angelman's syndrome
- Down syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Head trauma
- Genetics
- Progressive brain disease (rare)
Causes of seizures in seniors include:
- Stroke
- Alzheimer's disease
- Trauma
What Are Symptoms of Seizures?
Symptoms of seizures may include:
- Motor symptoms
- Tense or rigid muscles (tonic)
- Sustained rhythmic jerking movements (clonic)
- Muscle weakness or limpness (atonic)
- Brief muscle twitching (myoclonus)
- Epileptic spasms (body flexes and extends repeatedly)
- Jerking (clonic)
- Repeated automatic movements (automatisms), such as clapping or rubbing of hands, lip-smacking, chewing, or running
- Non-motor symptoms (absence seizures)
- Staring spells
- Brief twitches that can affect a specific body part or just the eyelids
- Changes in sensation
- Mood changes
- Changes in thinking or cognition
- Changes in autonomic functions (such as gastrointestinal sensations, waves of heat or cold, goosebumps, heart racing, etc.)
- Lack of movement (behavior arrest)
How Are Seizures Treated?
A doctor such as a neurologist can diagnose and treat disorders that cause seizures, including epilepsy. Some doctors may specialize in epilepsy.
Tests
There are many tests used to diagnose seizures. These tests may include:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) checks for brain wave patterns consistent with seizure activity
- Brain imaging to look for abnormal areas such as a tumor or infection
- X-ray of the brain
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Blood tests to check for certain medical disorders
- Lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap)
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check the heart
- Sleep testing
Treatments and Medications
- Treatment for seizures usually involves anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).
- Other therapies may include a special diet (such as the ketogenic diet) to control seizures.
- Epilepsy surgery may be performed to stop seizures or minimize their risks.
From 
Brain & Nervous Resources
References
Image Source: iStock Images
https://www.epilepsy.com/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/epilepsy-surgery/about/pac-20393981
https://www.epilepsy.com/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/epilepsy-surgery/about/pac-20393981