Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.

Between October 1990 and November 1991 data were collected on the frequency, causes, and nature of epileptic seizures in children admitted to the paediatric ward at Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya, from a defined study area. During this period, 1324 children were studied, of whom 15.8% had seizures...

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Main Authors: Waruiru, C, Newton, C, Forster, D, New, L, Winstanley, P, Mwangi, I, Marsh, V, Winstanley, M, Snow, R, Marsh, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 1996
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author Waruiru, C
Newton, C
Forster, D
New, L
Winstanley, P
Mwangi, I
Marsh, V
Winstanley, M
Snow, R
Marsh, K
author_facet Waruiru, C
Newton, C
Forster, D
New, L
Winstanley, P
Mwangi, I
Marsh, V
Winstanley, M
Snow, R
Marsh, K
author_sort Waruiru, C
collection OXFORD
description Between October 1990 and November 1991 data were collected on the frequency, causes, and nature of epileptic seizures in children admitted to the paediatric ward at Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya, from a defined study area. During this period, 1324 children were studied, of whom 15.8% had seizures as part of their illness. Malaria was by far the commonest cause of seizures, accounting for 69.0%; no other single condition caused more than 4.4%. The proportion of respiratory infections complicated by seizures was 4.0% compared to 31.3% for malaria. Only 25% of malaria-related epileptic seizures were associated with cerebral malaria; the remainder were associated with otherwise uncomplicated malaria and, in this group, 84% had complex seizures, with 47% being partial and over 70% repetitive. There was no relationship with fever, with 54% of observed seizures occurring at rectal temperatures below 38 degrees C. The minimum community incidence of complex seizures in association with non-cerebral malaria was 5.8 per 1000 per year. Complex epileptic seizures in association with otherwise uncomplicated malaria are common and may be a significant cause of longer term morbidity in malaria endemic areas.
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spelling oxford-uuid:819b75d0-d2f9-4cea-9017-4909757680732022-03-26T21:31:18ZEpileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:819b75d0-d2f9-4cea-9017-490975768073EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford1996Waruiru, CNewton, CForster, DNew, LWinstanley, PMwangi, IMarsh, VWinstanley, MSnow, RMarsh, KBetween October 1990 and November 1991 data were collected on the frequency, causes, and nature of epileptic seizures in children admitted to the paediatric ward at Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya, from a defined study area. During this period, 1324 children were studied, of whom 15.8% had seizures as part of their illness. Malaria was by far the commonest cause of seizures, accounting for 69.0%; no other single condition caused more than 4.4%. The proportion of respiratory infections complicated by seizures was 4.0% compared to 31.3% for malaria. Only 25% of malaria-related epileptic seizures were associated with cerebral malaria; the remainder were associated with otherwise uncomplicated malaria and, in this group, 84% had complex seizures, with 47% being partial and over 70% repetitive. There was no relationship with fever, with 54% of observed seizures occurring at rectal temperatures below 38 degrees C. The minimum community incidence of complex seizures in association with non-cerebral malaria was 5.8 per 1000 per year. Complex epileptic seizures in association with otherwise uncomplicated malaria are common and may be a significant cause of longer term morbidity in malaria endemic areas.
spellingShingle Waruiru, C
Newton, C
Forster, D
New, L
Winstanley, P
Mwangi, I
Marsh, V
Winstanley, M
Snow, R
Marsh, K
Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title_full Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title_fullStr Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title_full_unstemmed Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title_short Epileptic seizures and malaria in Kenyan children.
title_sort epileptic seizures and malaria in kenyan children
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