Ethnic differences in the incidence of seizure disorders in children from Bradford, United Kingdom

We sought to determine if there are differences in the incidence of seizure disorders between the children of the indigenous and immigrant (predominantly Pakistani) populations of Bradford, United Kingdom. Annual incidence rates per 100,000 for new onset seizures were calculated along with Townsend deprivation scores. The incidence of seizures (including febrile and single) was 153 (95%CI 104-139). The rate was significantly higher in south Asians (SA) (220; 184-255) compared to non-south Asians (non-SA) (121; 104-139), mainly because of febrile seizures whose incidence was 87 (136-169) overall and 142 (114-170) and 61 (49-74) in SA and non-SA, respectively. There were no significant differences in the rates of nonfebrile seizures (non-FebSz) overall and of idiopathic non-FebSz between racial groups but the rate for symptomatic/cryptogenic non-FebSz was significantly higher in SA (22; 10-34) compared to non-SA (6; 2-10). The occurrence of seizure disorders correlated with social deprivation. © 2007 International League Against Epilepsy.