AN INCIDENT CASE-REFERENT STUDY OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN CHILDREN - GENETIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS

In a prospective incident community-based case-referent study, 51 chil dren with onset of unprovoked epileptic seizures after the neonatal pe riod were compared with 89 age- and sex-matched referents with regard to genetic and socioeconomic factors. Epilepsy was more common in firs t-degree relatives of cases [odds ratio (OR) = 11.6; 95% confidence in terval (CI) = 2.2; 61.1]. The proportion of cases with a positive fami ly history of epilepsy was also higher in cases than referents (OR = 1 2.6, CI = 2.3, 69.7 with epilepsy in first-degree relatives and OR = 1 0.4, CI = 3.8, 28.7 with epilepsy in any type of relative). The propor tion of cases with febrile convulsions in relatives was higher than in referents (OR = 4.3, CI = 1.6, 11.7). More cases than referents (OR = 12.4, CI = 2.2,70. 1) had had a head trauma of moderate degree 6 mont hs preceding onset of seizures. Regarding family characteristics, the risk was decreased by level of education for both father and mother (t est for trend, p = 0.04). The risk for seizures was increased by numbe r of siblings (test for trend p = 0.004). Finally, there was a tendenc y to increased risk with increased age of father and mother at birth o f case/referents (test for trend p = 0.09 and 0.30, respectively).