SummaryIn a British population cigarette smoking during pregnancy increased the late fetal plus neonatal mortality rate by 28% and reduced birth weight by 170 g, and these differences persist even after allowing for a number of "mediating" maternal and social variables. A change in smoking habit by the end of the fourth month of pregnancy places a mother in the risk category appropriate to her changed habit. This evidence should have important implications for health education aimed at getting pregnant mothers to give up smoking.

Objective-To study outcome after lengthy febrile convulsions and status epilepticus in children.

Summary and conclusionsBy the age of 11 years 1043 children (6-7%) in an unselected national sample had a history of seizures or other episodes of loss of consciousness; 322 (20 8/1000) had a history offebrile convulsions without other epileptic problems. A clear-cut diagnosis of non-febrile epilepsy was established in 64 children (41/1000) by the age of 11 on the basis of confirmatory information supplied by family doctors and paediatricians. A further 39 (2-6/1000) were reported as having epilepsy but did not fulfil the -study criteria. The progress of 59 of the 64 children with established epilepsy was reviewed again when they were aged 16. Of the 37 educated in normal schools eight (22%) had one or more seizures in their 16th year compared with 13 out of 22 (59%) -who received special education.A possible cause for epilepsy was found in 17 of the 64 (27%) children, but for the majority there was no obvious reason.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy during childhood and early adult life in England, Scotland, and Wales. Design: Prospective study of 17 414 children born in England, Scotland, and Wales between 3 and 9 March 1958, followed up at 7, 11, 16, and 23 years of age, with a review of those with epilepsy at age 28.

Objectives-To assess the psychological impact of first episode of genital herpes, and to determine whether this changes over time.