Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
Published on: September 20, 2024
Risk of recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure in children
Catarina Maia1, Ana Raquel Moreira2, Tânia Lopes2
1Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Serviço de Pediatria, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Insights
Most children do not experience recurrent unprovoked epileptic seizures. Recurrence risk is higher in children with seizures during sleep, remote symptomatic epilepsy, or abnormal electroencephalogram results.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
Background:
- First-episode seizures in children require careful evaluation.
- Understanding recurrence risk factors is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of the first unprovoked epileptic seizure in children.
- To identify factors associated with seizure recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 103 pediatric patients (2003-2014).
- Analysis of medical records including electroencephalogram and neuroimaging.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS 20.0.
Main Results:
- Recurrence rate was 38%, with 80% occurring within six months.
- Seizures during sleep (p=0.004) and remote symptomatic etiology (p=0.02) were significant risk factors.
- Abnormal electroencephalogram findings also correlated with recurrence (p=0.021).
Conclusions:
- The majority of children with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure do not have recurrences.
- Seizure occurrence during sleep, remote symptomatic etiology, and EEG abnormalities increase recurrence risk.
- Age, seizure duration, and family history did not show significant association with recurrence.
Objectives:
This study aimed to evaluate the first episode of unprovoked epileptic seizure in children and assess recurrence risk factors.
Methods:
This was a retrospective observational study, based on the analysis of medical records of patients admitted between 2003 and 2014, with first epileptic seizure, at the pediatric service of a secondary hospital. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 program.
Results:
Of the 103 patients, 52.4% were boys. The median age at the first seizure was 59 (1-211) months. About 93% of children were submitted to an electroencephalogram at the first episode and 47% underwent neuroimaging assessment. Treatment with an antiepileptic drug was started in 46% of patients. The recurrence rate was 38% and of these, 80% had the second seizure within six months after the first event. Of the assessed risk factors, there was a statistically significant association between seizure during sleep and recurrence (p=0.004), and between remote symptomatic etiology seizure and occurrence of new seizure (p=0.02). The presence of electroencephalogram abnormalities was also associated with the occurrence of new seizures (p=0.021). No association was found between age, duration of the seizure, and family history of epilepsy with increased risk of recurrence.
Conclusions:
Most children with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure had no recurrences. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with seizure occurring during sleep or remote symptomatic ones and those with abnormal electroencephalogram results.
More Related Videos
09:16Use of a Wireless Video-EEG System to Monitor Epileptiform Discharges Following Lateral Fluid-Percussion Induced Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: June 21, 2019
10:22Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy
Published on: December 6, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:13Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...