Assessment of risk factors for epilepsy development at first afebrile seizure

Although there are a number of studies to determine the risk of recurrence of seizures in patients presenting with first epileptic seizures, reports have not yet been established that determine the factors for seizure reoccurrence. We aimed to determine the rates of reoccurrence and the risk factors in our pediatric neurology outpatient clinic for the first time with an epileptic seizure. At the end of one year follow-up, 43% of the cases had a seizure recovery. The effect of gender, gestational week, and type of birth on the risk of recurrence of seizures was not determined. Although it was thought that family history of febrile seizures or family history of epilepsy might be effective at seizure recovery, no statistically significant result could be obtained. It was observed that pathologic findings on neurological examination and the absence of normal cranial imaging increased the recurrence of seizures, although this was not significant. The presence of active epileptic disorder in EEG was found to be the most important risk factor for seizure recurrence. However, when EEG findings were evaluated in themselves, there was no significant difference in the effect of focal or generalized epileptiform disorder on recurrence seizures. As a result; the most important criterion for the risk of seizure recurrence in the patients who applied for the first time with an epileptic seizure has been the detection of an epileptiform disorder in the EEG. Patients with a high risk of seizure reoccurrence can be detected more easily by the questioning of the detailed story of the patient together with EEG, neurological examination and necessary imaging methods.