Pattern of childhood epilepsies in Sagumu, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence, aetiology and clinical pattern of childhood epilepsies in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

METHODS

A review of hospital records of children managed for epilepsies at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic. Data studied included the age at presentation, sex, socio-economic class, probable aetiology, clinical type of seizure, Electroencephalopgraphic (EEG) pattern and presence of other neurologic disorders co-existing with seizures.

RESULTS

Out of 183 children, 138 had epilepsies giving a prevalence of 75.4%. Sixty nine (54.7%) were aged 6 months to 3 years at the first visit and 115 (69.9%) belonged to lower socio-economic classes IV and V. Birth asphyxia 47 (37.3%) and brain infections in 28 (21.9%) were the leading aetiologies. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures and rolandic seizures occurred in 55 (76.9%), 8 (6.3%) and 2 (4.8%) children respectively. Inter-ictal EEG abnormalities were recorded among 72/77 children. Seizures co-existed with other neurologic deficits in 86 (68.3%) of all epileptic cases. 95 (75.4%) children had defaulted from the clinic as at the time of the study. 21 (19.6%) had poor response to drug treatment. Presence of other neurological disorders (p = 0.029) and multiple aetiologies (p = 0.0000) were associated with poor response to drug treatment.

CONCLUSION

Most cases of childhood epilepsy in Sagamu, Nigeria are due to preventable perinatal and neonatal conditions. Therefore, improved obstetric and neonatal care may reduce the prevalence of this condition.