title: Risk factors of childhood epilepsy in Kerala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to identify the risk factors for epilepsy in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control retrospective study was carried out in the pediatric neurology outpatient service of the Trivandrum Medical College. All children (1-12 years) with epilepsy satisfying the selection criteria were included, after obtaining consent from parents. Those with single seizures or febrile seizures were excluded. Controls were children without epilepsy attending the same hospital. Parents were interviewed and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Statistical analysis included chi-square test, odds ratio (OR), and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 82 cases and 160 controls whose mean age was 6.9 + 3.6 and 5.2 + 3.1, years respectively. On univariate analysis, family history of epilepsy, prolonged labor, cyanosis at birth, delayed cry after birth, admission to newborn intensive care unit, presence of congenital malformations, neurocutaneous markers, incessant cry in the first week, delayed developmental milestones, meningitis, encephalitis, and head trauma were found to be significant. On logistic regression, family history of epilepsy (OR 4.7), newborn distress (OR 8.6), delayed developmental milestones (OR 12.6), and head trauma (OR 5.8) were found to be significant predictors. Infants who had history of newborn distress are likely to manifest epilepsy before 1 year if they are eventually going to have epilepsy (OR 3.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modifiable factors such as newborn distress and significant head trauma are significant risk factors for childhood epilepsy. Newborn distress is a risk factor for early-onset (<1 year age) epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Thomas Varghese
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Attumalil
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.forename: Vivek Oommen
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.forename: P A Mohammed
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kunju