[The lunar cycle and seizures in children]

To analyze the annual trend of hospitalization and potential influence of the lunar cycle of children treated for seizures

The data of the patients treated for seizures (convulsions, epileptic seizures, disturbance of consciousness and epileptic seizures in children with neurodevelopmental disability) in the Pediatrics Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Tuzla were retrospectively analyzed during 2008 in relation to seasonal distribution, admission time (month, week, admission moment, day in a week, time of the day) and the lunar cycle.

Out f the total of 234 treated children, 55 (23,5%) were infants, 101 (43,1%) were under six years of age and 78 (33,3%) were of school age. The most common type of seizures were convulsions, 123 (42,6%). The seizures were numerous in the midst of the week, as opposed to weekends. The highest number of children was treated in January, February, July and August, that it, in the fourth, seventh, twenty-seventh and thirty-first week of the year. Seizures occured during the day in 149 patients (63,7%) and during the night in 84 (35,9%) patients (p < 0,0034). The number of treated patients was significantly larger in the third and fourth lunar phases (p < 0,018).

The results suggested seasonal and weekly trends of hospitalization of patients with seizures and their relation with circadian and lunar cycles. There is a need for further prospective studies in order to get better understanding of the influence of the lunar cycle on health.