What is the most common cause of seizures in children?

The most common cause of seizures in children is genetic disorders. Many seizures in pediatric populations can be attributed to various genetic conditions, including epilepsy syndromes that have a hereditary component. These genetic factors can contribute to the development of structural brain anomalies or affect neurotransmitter function, leading to an increased propensity for seizures.

While infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, can also lead to seizures in children, they are less frequent compared to the underlying genetic factors, especially in the context of chronic seizure disorders. Head trauma might cause seizures, but it is not as prevalent as genetic causes in the pediatric population. Similarly, brain tumors can induce seizures, but they represent a rarer and more specific cause compared to widespread genetic influences seen in various childhood epilepsy syndromes.

Therefore, genetic disorders stand out as the most common reason for seizures in children due to their prevalence and their role in many epileptic conditions.