Neurological diseases and developmental disorders as factors associated with epilepsy occurrence in children Choroby neurologiczne oraz zaburzenia rozwojowe jako czynniki ryzyka wystąpienia padaczki u dzieci

Aim of the study. Epilepsy often accompanies other neurological diseases or developmental problems in children. The purpose of the study is a strict and thorough assessment of children with past and coexisting neurological diseases or developmental abnormalities as well as defining the risk of epilepsy occurrence in this group of patients. Material and methods. The study was conducted at the Department of Developmental Neurology of Medical University Hospital in Gdansk. 310 patients, aged from 3 months to 17 years were included in the study. Factors such as: accompanying and past neurological diseases, head injuries, developmental problems as well as abnormalities on neurological examination were retrospectively assessed. Observation period lasted 24 months from the first seizure. Obtained data were statistically analyzed. Results. We found significantly higher risk (p<0,05) of epilepsy occurrence among children with: delayed global psychomotor development (n=58; 25,78%) as well as individually in each sphere: motor (n=42, 18,75%), mental (n=42, 18,83%), speech (n=35, 18,72%) and also with abnormal neurological examination (n=34; 10,97%). Mental retardation, present or past accompanying neurological diseases and problems as well as head injuries were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Delayed psychomotor development (assessed globally or in each sphere: motor, mental or speech separately) as well as abnormal neurological examination significantly correlated with epilepsy occurrence in children. Mental retardation, present or past accompanying neurological diseases and problems as well as head injuries did not increase the risk of epilepsy in children.