Epilepsy is the main neurological condition in children and adolescents. 
Unfortunately patients with medical refractory epilepsy are more susceptible for 
clinical complications and death. We report a prospectively evaluated cohort of 
children followed for approximately 10 years. Fifty-three of 1012 patients died. 
Forty-two patients died due to epilepsy or its clinical complications and the 
main causes of death were pneumonia (in 16 cases), sepsis (in 9 patients), 
status epilepticus (in 8 patients). In 11 patients cause of death was sudden 
unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Mental retardation was significantly more 
frequent in patients who did not die from SUDEP. SUDEP may be a significant 
condition associated with mortality in children and adolescents with epilepsy.