Objective: It is known that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) can manifest with neurologic findings in addition to respiratory symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the rate of patients with COVID-19 who presented with a first epileptic seizure as a neurologic finding.

Methods: The study included patients who presented to our hospital’s emergency department reporting a seizure between March 11 and May 30, 2020. Of 90 patients, 32 (35.5%) presented first seizures. The patients’ demographic characteristics, medical history, complications, the presence of risk factors relating to their treatment and seizures, laboratory findings, clinical properties, and imaging findings were recorded.

Results: Of the patients with first seizures, 19 were men, and 13 were women. Their mean age was 49.5 (minimum: 18, maximum: 89) years. The percentage of patients with COVID-19 who presented with a first seizure was 31.2% (n=10). A risk factor was identified in 8 (80%) patients who presented with a first seizure, and no risk factor was found in 2 (20%) patients. In all patients, COVID-19 was diagnosed following a seizure presentation. The intensive care requirement rate was 30% (n=3), and 2 (20%) patients died.

Conclusion: The rate of COVID-19 among patients presenting with a first seizure is high. It would be appropriate to consider patients arriving with a seizure without any other respiratory or systemic issues as being related to COVID-19 and plan the necessary analyses and treatment.