Outcome of head trauma: age and post-traumatic seizures.

A series of 307 head-injured children (0-14 yr) was followed from the acute phase for up to six years with a separate group of 220 non-injured siblings as control. The neurological, EEG, psychometric and psychiatric findings were analysed. Here we discuss the influence of age at time of injury with respect to post traumatic seizures. Overall incidence of early seizures (during first week) was 15% and of late seizures (one week to six years) was 5%. Youngest children (0-2 yr), however, had a low frequency (3%) of early seizures, but 11% frequency of late seizures. The frequency of early seizures was higher and frequency of the late seizures was lower in children than in adults with either closed or penetrating injuries. Comparison of these data with those of other investigators suggested that the overall incidence of early seizures in children 2-14 yr of age is higher than in adults, whereas the late occurrence of seizures appears to be lower than that in adults. The pattern, however, in the youngest children 0-2 yr of age resembles that of adults (particularly adults with penetrating injuries).