Risk of epilepsy following Covid-19
Researchers at the University of Oxford have shown that there is an increased risk of developing seizures in the six months following an infection of Covid-19.
This relates to the general population rather than to those who have epilepsy.
Although the risk is very low, evidence showed that people who had Covid-19 were 55 per cent more likely to develop epilepsy or seizures than those who had influenza.
Ley Sander, Medical Director at the Epilepsy Society and Professor of Neurology at UCL said that the research was interesting and would add to our understanding of the long-term implications of Covid-19. But he emphasised that the overall risk of epilepsy was very low and people should read the research results with caution.
“If anything, these results underpin the importance of everyone making sure they are vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Professor Sander. “Vaccination remains the most effective way for people to protect themselves from the virus itself and the long-term outcomes.”
Comparison with flu
The research, led by Arjune Sen at the University of Oxford, was published in the online edition of Neurology. Researchers compared the health records of people who had Covid-19 and people who had influenza.
None of the participants had previously been diagnosed with epilepsy or recurrent seizures. The researchers then looked to see whether people developed epilepsy or seizures in the following six months.
The increased risk of seizures was more noticeable among children than adults. It was also more noticeable in those who did not need hospitalisation for Covid-19 infections.