Seizure control and educational outcome in childhood-onset epilepsy.

Patients with epilepsy are more prone to have learning disabilities. This study investigated the therapeutic and educational outcome of 102 epileptic children. Analyzed data included age at onset, etiology, presence of underlying brain lesions, seizure type, and electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns. Cryptogenic seizures, remote symptomatic seizures, and underlying brain lesions were found in 29, 26, and 14 patients, respectively, whereas 47 patients had idiopathic seizures. Eighty-three patients achieved seizure control (46 remained seizure free), and 19 patients remained poorly controlled. Sixty-five patients were in regular schools, and 37 required special education (17 with mental retardation). Predictors for poor seizure control were remote symptomatic seizures, underlying brain lesions, and (when grouped together) hypsarrhythmia and mixed EEG patterns (P < .001). Predictors for special education needs were young age at onset, remote symptomatic seizures, underlying brain lesions, hypsarrhythmia and mixed EEG patterns, and poor seizure control (P < .001). We conclude that in childhood epilepsy, the need for special education is substantial and more common than treatment failure.