Relation of the Characteristics of the Magnetic Resonance Profile of the Brain in Children with Epilepsy on the Season of their Birth

Abstract

Purpose of the study. Identifying common and distinctive features of the relationship between the season of children birth and the risk of developing epilepsy and without brain pathologies according to magnetic resonans imaging (MRI) data. Materials and methods of research. 94 children aged 4 to 14 years with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy were under observation. The children were divided into two groups: children with brain pathologies according to MRI data and children without brain pathologies according to MRI data. The entire population and the children in these groups are distributed according to their birth months. The proportions of children in each month and season were compared using pairwise tests. A statistically significant difference was considered at t≥1.96 (p≤0.05). Results. In the total population, the smallest and largest proportion of children were born in January and July, respectively (5.2±2.3 and 13.6±3.5%; t=1.98). In the group of children with epilepsy without brain pathology, according to MRI data, the smallest proportion of children were born in May (3.55±2.08%), and the largest in July (12.16±3.64%) and December (12.16±3.64%; t=2.03; p<0.05). Conclusions. MRI can detect brain pathologies in 13.83±3.56% of children with epilepsy. The seasonality of the children birth with epilepsy with and without brain pathologies is different; it is more pronounced in children with epilepsy without brain pathologies according to MRI data.