European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Acute onset seizure is one of the common causes of childhood hospitalization with significant mortality and morbidity. There is limited data regarding acute seizures episodes and its outcome from developing countries. Seizure is a commonly encountered problem in pediatric practice. Convulsive disorder constitutes a heterogeneous group with a varied etiology. Arriving at the cause of seizure is important as it plays a vital role in managing the child. Chances of recurrence to be analyzed, after the first episode of seizure for management. The aim was to study the etiology and the causes of recurrence after a first episode seizure.
Methods: A prospective observational study was done on 142 children for a period of six months admitted in tertiary care center. Proper history, complete neurological and other systemic examinations was done. Blood investigations and imaging with EEG was done when indicated. All children were classified according to International League against epilepsy and followed up for recurrence rate and history leading to recurrence. Co- relation between recurrence and risk factors was analyzed.
Results: Electroencephalogram tracing was abnormal in 65 out of 107 children. 20 out of 65 had recurrence while only 2 among 42 normal EEG had recurrence. This was statistically significant (P value 0.001). Children with remote symptomatic etiology constitutes the majority in those with abnormal EEG tracings. In children with remote symptomatic etiology, only one child had normal EEG. Remote symptomatic had higher number of abnormal EEG when compared to others and was found to have more recurrence.
Conclusions: Children with EEG abnormalities after the first episode of afebrile seizure have more chance of recurrence. Children with seizure secondary to remote symptomatic etiology had more recurrences.