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Inheriting epilepsy

Last checked 21/11/2008

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Many parents with epilepsy worry that their children might inherit their epilepsy. This is a complicated issue and depends on a number of factors. However, the risk is usually less than one in 10.

There are three different ways in which epilepsy can be inherited.

  • A person’s low epileptic seizure threshold may be passed to the next generation through the genes.
  • Some types of epilepsy seem to run in families. These include benign rolandic epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and a rare type of temporal lobe epilepsy. (More information about these is available from Epilepsy Action).
  • Epilepsy can be one of the symptoms of another inherited medical condition, for example tuberous sclerosis.


If you are worried that your child might be at risk of inheriting epilepsy, speak to your family doctor or epilepsy specialist. They may refer you to a genetic counsellor. A genetic counsellor will look at information such as who in the family has epilepsy, their seizure type, age at which it started and the results of any tests. They will also look at any other medical conditions present in the family. They will use this information to try to work out the risk of your child developing epilepsy.

Facts about epilepsy and inheritance

  • Children who have a mother with epilepsy have a slightly higher risk of developing epilepsy than children who have a father with epilepsy.
  • For children in the highest risk categories, the probability that they will develop epilepsy is usually less than one in 10.

More information about epilepsy and inheritance 

 

November 2008

 

More in this section: 

  • Sexual development (puberty)
  • Sex life
  • Your periods (the menstrual cycle)
  • Contraception
  • The menopause and HRT
  • Epilepsy and fertility
  • Planning a baby
  • Scans and tests during pregnancy
  • Giving birth
  • Breastfeeding
  • Caring for children
  • Inheriting epilepsy
  • How you can help Epilepsy Action
  • Epilepsy Mine
    • ‹ Caring for children (a quick guide)upHow you can help Epilepsy Action ›

    Comments

    I have temporal lobe epilepsy, so does my mother and also my younger brother. I appears our family is a little on the rare side as far as the inheritance question goes. If my mother passed it down to her children, would it not follow that I would have a better chance of handing it down to mine?

    Submitted by Erin (not verified) on 1 December, 2008 - 20:14.