Identification of factors precipitating epileptic seizures should always have practical implications and should always result in special recommendations given to patients. The purpose of our study is to analyze the relation between seizure-triggering factors and restrictive recommendations involving limitation of physical activity in particular. The research group consisted of 407 children hospitalized due to seizures. Their precipitants were identified in 27.5% of the patients. The most common included infection/fever, stress, and flashing lights. Although sport was documented as a precipitant in only 3.4% of all children, 8.1% of the investigated group were recommended to limit physical activity. As some episodes of epileptic seizures are reported to be provoked by sport, multiple restrictions are imposed on children. In the light of the worldwide academic literature and the present study, the recommendation of limiting sports activity is no longer supported.
JallonPZifkinBG. Seizure precipitants. In: EngelJJrPedleyTA, eds. Epilepsy. A Comprehensive Textbook. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:77–80.
2.
AirdRB. The importance of seizure-inducing factors in the control of refractory forms of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1983;24:567–583.
3.
BurdetteDEFeldmanRG. Factors that can exacerbate seizures. In: ResorSRKuttH, eds. The Medical Treatment of Epilepsy. New York: Marcel Dekker; 1992:79–89.
4.
FangPCChenYJLeeIC. Seizure precipitants in children with intractable epilepsy. Brain Dev. 2008;30:527–532.
5.
Da Silva SousaPLinKGarzonESakamotoACYacubianEM. Self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Seizure. 2005;14:340–346.
6.
VerduynCMStoresGMissenA. A survey of mother’s impressions of seizure precipitants in children with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1988;29:251–255.
7.
NakkenKOSolaasMHKjeldsenMJFriisMLPellockJMCoreyLA. Which seizure-precipitating factors do patients with epilepsy most frequently report?Epilepsy Behav. 2006;6:85–89.
8.
Asadi-PooyaAASperlingMR. Do foods precipitate seizures? A cross-cultural comparison. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;11:450–453.
9.
TanJ-HWilder-SmithELimECHOngBKC. Frequency of provocative factors in epileptic patients admitted for seizures: a prospective study in Singapore. Seizure. 2005;14:464–469.
10.
FruchtMMQuiggMSchwanerCFountainNB. Distribution of seizure precipitants among epilepsy syndromes. Epilepsia. 2000;41:1534–1539.
11.
PinikahanaJDonoJ. Age and gender differences in initial symptoms and precipitant factors of epileptic seizures: an Australian study. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;16:231–239.
12.
DenioLSDrakeMEJrPakalnisA. The effect of exercise on seizure frequency. J Med. 1989;20:171–176.
13.
AridaRMScorzaFACavalheiroEA. Role of physical exercise as complementary treatment for epilepsy and other brain disorders. Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19:6720–6725.
14.
SpectorSCullCGlodsteinLH. Seizure precipitants and perceived self-control of seizures in adults with poorly-controlled epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2000;38:207–216.
15.
American Medical Association Committee on the Medical Aspects of Sports. Convulsive disorders and participation in sports and physical education. JAMA. 1968;206:1291.
16.
American Medical Association Committee on the Medical Aspects of Sports. Epileptics and contact sports. JAMA. 1974;229:820–821.
17.
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Handicaps and Committee on Sports Medicine. Sports and the child with epilepsy. Pediatrics. 1983;72:884–885.
18.
Commission of Pediatrics of the International League Against Epilepsy. Restrictions for children with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1997;38:1054–1056.
19.
KirschRWirrellE. Do cognitively normal children with epilepsy have a higher rate of injury than their nonepileptic peers?J Child Neurol. 2001;16:100–104.
20.
AppletonRE. Seizure-related injuries in children with newly diagnosed and untreated epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2002;43:764–767.
21.
DiekemaDSQuanLHoltVL. Epilepsy as a risk factor for submersion injury in children. Pediatrics. 1993;91:612–616.
22.
KempAMSibertJR. Epilepsy in children and the risk of drowning. Arch Dis Child. 1993;68:684–685.
Van den BrockMBeghiE. Morbidity in patients with epilepsy: type and complications: a European cohort study. Epilepsia. 2004;45:71–76.
25.
WongJWirrellE. Physical activity in children/teens with epilepsy compared with that in their sibling without epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2006;47:631–639.
26.
JalavaMSillanpääM. Physical activity, health-related fitness, and health experience in adults with childhood-onset epilepsy: a controlled study. Epilepsia. 1997;38:424–429.
27.
GordonKEDooleyJMBrnaPM. Epilepsy and activity—a population-based study. Epilepsia. 2010;51:2254–2259.
28.
ElliottJOLuBMooreJLMcAuleyJWLongL. Exercise, diet, health behaviors, and risk factors among persons with epilepsy based on the California Health Interview Survey, 2005. Epilepsy Behav. 2008;13:307–315.
29.
CarpayHAVermeulenJStroinkH. Disability due to restrictions in childhood epilepsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1997;39:521–526.
30.
AridaRMScorzaFAPeruccaEMashéSL. Can people with epilepsy enjoy sports?Epilepsy Res. 2012;98:94–95. [Letter to the editor]
