Which of the following are factors that can cause seizures?

• A. Eating spicy foods
• B. Viral infection only
• C. Brain injury, family tendency, or unknown causes
• D. Lack of sleep only

Answer: (C)

Seizures arise from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and many different factors can contribute to that risk. The strongest answer captures three broad possibilities: brain injury can disrupt brain networks and provoke seizures; a family tendency reflects genetic susceptibility to epilepsy; and unknown causes (idiopathic) mean seizures occur without a clear, identifiable trigger. Spicy foods have no proven link to triggering seizures. Viral infections can provoke seizures in some cases, but they are not the only factor and not the exclusive cause. Lack of sleep can lower the seizure threshold for some individuals, but again it’s not the sole cause. Understanding that seizures can stem from injury, genetics, or idiopathic origins helps guide prevention and monitoring in care settings.