Risk factors for childhood epilepsy: a case-control study

Background. Risk factors for epilepsy are conditions associated with an increased frequency of epilepsy, and those for childhood epilepsy are different from those for epilepsy occurring later in life. In the present matched case-control study, we attempted to identify some possible risk factors for childhood epilepsy. Methods. All children with epilepsy who attended the clinic of Motahary in Shiraz, Iran during a 6-month period were included in the study. Neurologically normal children, matched for age and sex, visiting the same clinic were considered as controls. The data on patients and controls were obtained from answers to a questionnaire obtained through personal interviews. Details on the patient, family history, parental smoking, breast versus formula feeding, and parental age at the time of childbirth were included. Medical records were then reviewed. Results. In total, 142 patients and 138 controls participated. Positive family history of epilepsy increased the risk of developing epilepsy by 3.34-fold. A higher risk of epilepsy was observed in patients living in rural areas (OR = 2.44). Conclusions. Positive family history of epilepsy and residence in rural areas were the two major risk factors associated with epilepsy in this study; neonatal jaundice, parental age, and passive smoke exposure added no risk. Breast-feeding was not shown to have a protective effect against development of epilepsy. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.