A new study published in the online issue of Neurology today found that patients with a COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop epilepsy or seizures during the next six months than people with an influenza infection. Children were shown to be at a higher risk than adults. It was also more prevalent among individuals who did not require hospitalization for COVID-19 infections.

According to study author Arjune Sen, “the overall risk of developing seizures or epilepsy was low—less than 1% of all people with COVID-19,” but “given the large number of people who have been infected with COVID-19, this could result in increases in the number of people with seizures and epilepsy.” 

“In addition, the increased risk of seizures and epilepsy in children gives us another reason to try to prevent COVID-19 infections in kids.”

The study analyzed a database of medical records pertaining to persons infected with COVID-19. They were matched with people who had been diagnosed with influenza around the same time and who were similar to them in age, sex, and other ways, like having other health problems. Nobody who took part in the study had ever been given a diagnosis of epilepsy or of seizure disorders in the past. The next step for the researchers was to check on any new cases of epilepsy or seizures that occurred within the next six months.

Each group had 152,754 people.

Over the following six months, individuals with COVID-19 had a 55% higher risk of developing epilepsy or seizures than those with influenza. In those who had COVID-19, the rate of new cases of epilepsy or seizures was 0.94%, compared to 0.60% in those who had influenza.

“People should interpret these results cautiously since the overall risk is low,” Sen added. “We do, however, recommend that health care professionals pay particular attention to individuals who may have more subtle features of seizures, such as focal aware seizures, where people are alert and aware of what is going on, especially in the three months following a less severe COVID-19 infection.”

The researchers were unable to identify the individual viral variations people were infected with, which could have altered the outcomes.

The Oxford Health Biomedical Research Center of the British National Institute for Health and Care Research provided funding for the study.

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