CDC Reports on Premature Deaths Among Children with Epilepsy - South Carolina, 2000-2011

• Children with epilepsy might have an increased risk for death compared with children without epilepsy
• Annual risk of death was 0.84% compared with 0.22% among children of the same ages without epilepsy
• Developmental conditions, cardiovascular disorders, and injuries were most common causes of death

Epilepsy is a group of disorders all involving recurring seizures but of different types, causes, and severity.  Epilepsy affects about 450,000 children in the U.S.  In a large population-based study from South Carolina with 12 years of follow-up, children with epilepsy were at significantly higher risk of death than children without epilepsy.  This higher risk was associated with co-occurring conditions such as birth defects, heart disease, and unintentional injuries.  Health care providers should frequently monitor children with epilepsy, especially those with co-occurring conditions, to provide appropriate treatment and to reduce the risk of premature death.  Health care providers, social service providers, advocacy groups, and others interested in improving outcomes for children with epilepsy can work together to  coordinate  medical and community-based care to prevent complications associated with epilepsy. 

“This report is important because it reminds us all that we need to find better ways to help our children with seizures and epilepsy," said Joseph Sirven, MD, editor-in-chief at epilepsy.com.  "We need to insure that appropriate services and healthcare personnel are available to stop kids from dying from epilepsy.”

The full report is available from the CDC.