Rubella immunoglobulin G antibody titers in children with seizures

The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was utilized to assess serum rubella immunoglobulin G antibody titers in a representative sample of American children. Antibody titers were significantly lower in children with a history of seizures and in children treated for seizures compared to unaffected children, after adjustment for age, ethnicity, residence, and region ( P=0.022 and 0.029, respectively). Children with the lowest antibody titers were non-Hispanic whites who had a history of seizures. The percentage of US adolescents and young adults with a history of seizures that may have insufficient immunity to rubella is estimated to be 14–50%.