台大醫院健康教育中心_癲癇衛教文章

發作與癲癇之病因

癲癇於全部人口之盛行率將近百分之一，為僅次於中風之最常見神經疾病，然許多人對此疾病仍陌生。發作 (seizure) 為腦部異常放電所導致對應之陣發性症狀，而癲癇 (epilepsy) 則已是異常迴路與不正常放電導致之慢性疾病。 

癲癇的成因為大腦先天或後天問題，導致大腦神經細胞產生異常迴路與不正常放電，進而產生陣發性甚至慢性異常神經活動之疾病，常見臨床症狀包括抽搐、不正常感覺、意識不同程度受損…等等的表現，而其中有些人甚至不會意識到自己正在發作。以下為癲癇之常見成因：

Epilepsy affects nearly 1% of the global population, making it the second most common neurological disorder after stroke. Despite its prevalence, many people remain unfamiliar with the condition. A seizure is a sudden episode caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, while epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to persistent abnormal brain circuits and electrical activity.

The causes of epilepsy stem from congenital or acquired issues in the brain that lead to the formation of abnormal neural circuits and irregular electrical discharges. These can result in episodic or chronic abnormal brain activity. Common symptoms include convulsions, unusual sensations, and varying degrees of impaired consciousness—some individuals may not even be aware they are having a seizure.

Below are some common causes of epilepsy: