Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Epilepsy, the most predominant noncontagious neurologic disorder affecting children and carrying profound levels of social stigma, is an important cause of childhood morbidity globally. Objectives: This study aims at describing the prevalence, etiological risk factors, seizure pattern/as...

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Main Authors: Clifford O Okike, Diana O Emeagui, Obinna C Ajaegbu, Uzoamaka V Muoneke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Medicine and Health Development
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=74;epage=80;aulast=Okike
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author Clifford O Okike
Diana O Emeagui
Obinna C Ajaegbu
Uzoamaka V Muoneke
author_facet Clifford O Okike
Diana O Emeagui
Obinna C Ajaegbu
Uzoamaka V Muoneke
author_sort Clifford O Okike
collection DOAJ
description Background: Epilepsy, the most predominant noncontagious neurologic disorder affecting children and carrying profound levels of social stigma, is an important cause of childhood morbidity globally. Objectives: This study aims at describing the prevalence, etiological risk factors, seizure pattern/associated comorbidities, and outcome of treatment with antiepiletic drugs (AEDs) among patients with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic of Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A 10-year review of all patients seen at the neurology clinic of the tertiary institution. Information including history/physical examination, socio-demographic variables, and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings was collected from the clinic records of the patients between January 2009 and December 2019. A total of 105 patients presented with clinical features of epilepsy classified based on the 2017 International League Against Epilepsy classification. All data obtained from the clinic records were analyzed using the SPSS, Version 23.0, software. Results: Of the 302 patients seen with different neurologic morbidities, 105 had epilepsy, giving a prevalence rate of 34.7%, occurring more in children aged 6 months to 3 years with a male predisposition (55.2%). Generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure was identified as the most predominant type 9/105(8.6%), severe birth asphyxia and cerebral palsy were the most common cause, and comorbidity of epilepsy, respectively. Sodium valproate was the commonly used AED with 55.8% good outcome. Conclusion: Epilepsy is still an underreported childhood neurologic morbidity in our environment. Good outcome recorded can be attributed to high levels of adherence to medication and absence of associated metabolic disorders or intracranial structural lesions.
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spelling doaj.art-1ec332dbbc0341e498e50e5592e1cf982022-12-22T04:14:07ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Medicine and Health Development2635-36952022-01-01271748010.4103/ijmh.IJMH_69_20Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospitalClifford O OkikeDiana O EmeaguiObinna C AjaegbuUzoamaka V MuonekeBackground: Epilepsy, the most predominant noncontagious neurologic disorder affecting children and carrying profound levels of social stigma, is an important cause of childhood morbidity globally. Objectives: This study aims at describing the prevalence, etiological risk factors, seizure pattern/associated comorbidities, and outcome of treatment with antiepiletic drugs (AEDs) among patients with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic of Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A 10-year review of all patients seen at the neurology clinic of the tertiary institution. Information including history/physical examination, socio-demographic variables, and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings was collected from the clinic records of the patients between January 2009 and December 2019. A total of 105 patients presented with clinical features of epilepsy classified based on the 2017 International League Against Epilepsy classification. All data obtained from the clinic records were analyzed using the SPSS, Version 23.0, software. Results: Of the 302 patients seen with different neurologic morbidities, 105 had epilepsy, giving a prevalence rate of 34.7%, occurring more in children aged 6 months to 3 years with a male predisposition (55.2%). Generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure was identified as the most predominant type 9/105(8.6%), severe birth asphyxia and cerebral palsy were the most common cause, and comorbidity of epilepsy, respectively. Sodium valproate was the commonly used AED with 55.8% good outcome. Conclusion: Epilepsy is still an underreported childhood neurologic morbidity in our environment. Good outcome recorded can be attributed to high levels of adherence to medication and absence of associated metabolic disorders or intracranial structural lesions.http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=74;epage=80;aulast=Okikeasabachildrenepilepsyneurology clinic
spellingShingle Clifford O Okike
Diana O Emeagui
Obinna C Ajaegbu
Uzoamaka V Muoneke
Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
International Journal of Medicine and Health Development
asaba
children
epilepsy
neurology clinic
title Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
title_full Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
title_fullStr Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
title_full_unstemmed Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
title_short Outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a Nigerian tertiary hospital
title_sort outcome of treatment of children with epilepsy in a nigerian tertiary hospital
topic asaba
children
epilepsy
neurology clinic
url http://www.ijmhdev.com/article.asp?issn=2635-3695;year=2022;volume=27;issue=1;spage=74;epage=80;aulast=Okike
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AT dianaoemeagui outcomeoftreatmentofchildrenwithepilepsyinanigeriantertiaryhospital
AT obinnacajaegbu outcomeoftreatmentofchildrenwithepilepsyinanigeriantertiaryhospital
AT uzoamakavmuoneke outcomeoftreatmentofchildrenwithepilepsyinanigeriantertiaryhospital