Recurrence of First Afebrile Unprovoked Seizure and Parental Consanguinity: A Hospital-Based Study

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with the recurrence of first unprovoked seizure in children. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted at King Abdullah University Hospital in Jordan. Children aged from 1 month to 16 years old who attended the hospital between January 2013 to December 2017 were evaluated on the basis of medical records, from the first visit and for a 1-year follow-up period. Results: During the study period, a total of 290 cases with first unprovoked seizure were included. The incidence of first unprovoked seizure was 441 cases per 100 000 patient visits to the pediatric clinic. More than half of the cases developed a second attack (55.3%). Children with parental consanguinity were almost 3 times more likely to develop a second attack of seizure compared to those without parental consanguinity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.785, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.216-6.378, P = .015) and patients who had a history of focal type of seizure were almost twice as likely to develop seizure recurrence (OR = 1.798, 95% CI = 1.013-3.193, P = .045). Conclusions: The current results showed a high incidence of first unprovoked seizure among children in Jordan. Parental consanguinity and focal seizure were associated with the increased risk of recurrent attack. This finding highlights the need for public education regarding the outcomes of parental consanguinity to improve the patient's quality of life.