Epilepsia 58 (6): 994 - 1004, 2017. doi: 10.1111 / epi.13740 Key Points Common causes of seizures include birth injuries, hereditary or congenital neurologic disorders, and metabolic disorders in children < 2 years; idiopathic seizure disorders in children 2 to 14 years; head trauma, alcohol withdrawal, tumors, strokes, and unknown causes (in 50%) in adults; and tumors and strokes in the older people.