Prevalence of recurrent symptoms and their association with epilepsy and febrile seizure in school-aged children: A community-based survey in Iceland

We determined the prevalence of common recurrent symptoms in a community-based study of children and investigated whether these symptoms were associated with epilepsy and febrile seizure. A questionnaire was developed and sent to parents of all children attending school in the Reykjavik school district, grades 1-10. The questions assessed personality traits, headache, epilepsy, febrile seizure, and recurrent symptoms. Of the 13,044 questionnaires distributed, 10,578 were returned (81%). We analyzed the subset of 9679 (91%) questionnaires with complete information on relevant factors. The prevalence of epilepsy was 7.7/1000; febrile seizures were reported in 5.1% of children. Prevalence estimates of recurrent symptoms were similar to the published literature. In our cohort, recurrent dizzy spells and recurrent visual disturbances were associated with epilepsy after adjustment for age, migraine and febrile seizure. This association could reflect, only in part, the occurrence of auras in children with epilepsy.

► We determined the prevalence of common recurrent symptoms in school-children. ► We analyzed their association with epilepsy and febrile seizure. ► Prevalence of recurrent symptoms were similar to the published literature. ► Recurrent dizzy spells and visual disturbances were associated with epilepsy. ► Recurrent chest pain and unexplained fever episodes correlated with febrile seizure.