[Health status of children born to mothers with epilepsy]

Abstract

The authors studied 168 children of mothers with the diagnosis of epilepsy, with 94 of them aged below 15 years whose conception occurred already during the disease of the mother. The control group included 94 children of healthy mothers. These groups of children were matched for sex and age. The general condition was analysed with particular reference to congenital anomalies, neurological condition and psychological investigation. A statistically significantly higher frequency of seizures was observed in the children of epileptic mothers as compared with controls. Occurrence of epileptic seizures and treatment with anticonvulsants in pregnancy create an additional risk of congenital anomalies developing in offsprings, it is possible that they predispose also to premature labours. No significant effect on the psychic state of the children was found.