The clinical convulsive profile in children admitted in the Department of paediatrics in Qena University Hospital; Epidemiological study

Abstract

Background: Seizures are a potentially life threatening problem with a variety of causes. Objectives: The current study aimed to recognize different patterns of convulsions among children and identify different causes of convulsions in children with detection of the frequency of these causes. Patients and methods: We evaluated 400 children who presented with seizure disorder. Variables including demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory tests, brain imaging studies, electroencephalography and hospital course were assessed and compared between patients. Results: The mean age was 3.9 ± 3.5 years, 238 (59.5%) were males. Generalized tonicclonic (GTC) seizures were the most frequent type of seizures (62.5 %).The most frequent etiology for seizures was CP in 30 patients (7.5%) followed by CNS infection in 16 patients (4%).Family history was positive in 44 patients (11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of seizures in children was common in males than females and common in preschool children than older children. The generalized tonic clonic seizures were the most common seizure type in children. Cerebral palsy and CNS infection were common causes of seizures. EEG and neuroimaging study are helpful in diagnosis of causes of seizures.

Keywords

• seizures; epilepsy; electroencephalography (eeg)