Comorbidity of childhood epilepsy

Epilepsy in children is occasionally associated with variable comorbidities although the frequency of such comorbidity is often difficult to determine. They can be divided into three categories: neurological, psychological, and physical comorbidities. The goal of the present review is to discuss the reported comorbidities of epilepsy in children. The possible mechanisms and associated risk factors—including the effect of seizure frequency and seizure control, types of epilepsy, age of seizure onset, duration of illness, and the possible detrimental effect of antiepileptic drugs—will be described.