In acquired epilepsy, or symptomatic epilepsy the cause is physical, such as a brain tumor or a wound or blow on the head. These injuries irrítate the brain and set off the abnormal electrical discharge. A cure may be achieved by an operation to remove the tumor or repair the injury.
Ordinary epilepsy is also called genuine epilepsy or idiopathic epilepsy, which means cause unknown. This is the most common type, and it is what most people have in mind when they speak of epilepsy. It usually begins early in life. This type of epilepsy is not directly inherited, although it is generally believed that a predisposition or tendency to it may run in families. While the cause is still unknown, a great deal is known about it, especially in regard to treatment.
