Objectives - The possibility that certain foods or allergens may induce con
vulsions has already been reported in the literature. None of the relevant
studies has, however, shown a close correlation between allergy and epileps
y, most reports being anecdotal and open to various causal hypotheses. The
case-control study reported here was undertaken to test the hypothesis that
epilepsy is linked to allergy. Material and Methods Seventy-two epileptic
children and a group of 202 controls in the same age bracket were investiga
ted for allergy together with their immediate families. Results - The Study
revealed significantly higher rates of eczema in the mothers and rhinitis
in the siblings of the patients studied as well as generally higher inciden
ce of allergic pathologies in both of these groups with respect to the rele
vant controls. A significantly higher incidence of allergy to cow's milk an
d asthma was also documented in the epileptic children with respect to the
control group. Prick tests gave a significantly, higher rate of positive re
sults for cow's milk proteins in the cases examined with respect to the con
trols. The total serum IgE of a random sample of cases and controls showed
no difference in mean values. Conclusion - The study appears to bear out th
e hypothesis of a higher incidence of allergy in the children with epilepsy
and their immediate families than in the controls and their families.