What is the most common cause of seizures in children aged 2 to 10 years?

The most common cause of seizures in children aged 2 to 10 years is febrile seizures. Febrile seizures are typically associated with elevated body temperature, often due to infections such as viral illnesses. This age group is particularly vulnerable to febrile seizures because children frequently experience fevers from common childhood infections, and their developing brains may react to high temperatures with seizure activity.

Febrile seizures can be either simple or complex, with simple ones being the most common and characterized by a generalized tonic-clonic seizure that lasts less than 15 minutes and does not recur within 24 hours. These seizures usually do not lead to long-term complications and typically resolve as the child grows older.

In this age group, other causes such as trauma, cerebral malformations, and metabolic disturbances are less common. Although these conditions can lead to seizures, they are not as prevalent in comparison to the incidence of febrile seizures among children between the ages of 2 and 10 years.