Epilepsy in children and risk of drowning. (includes related article on recommendations to children with epilepsy)

Epilepsy is a relatively common disorder of childhood. Estimates from around the world show that as many as 0.5-1 percent of children are affected. As summertime approaches parents often seek advice about how these youngsters should conduct themselves around the water. The advice given does not at times refleclt the true nature of the problem as good statistics are not available assessing the actual risk to a child. Researchers in England decided to address this issue in a recent study.

The study collected data on children under age 15 who experienced a near or actual drowning. A total of 303 incidents took place in the study period from 1988-1989. Of …