Pattern Of Epilepsy In Childhood And Adolescence : A Hospital-Based Study

Background This hospital-based study aimed to evaluate the frequency and diagnostic pattern of epilepsy in our locality among population with age range from birth to 18 years. Methods 127 patients out of a total of 565 regularly attended the out-patient epilepsy clinic, were included in this study over 6 months period. Results At the time of interview, 48% had age ranges from 12-18 years, 78% were rural residents and 62.2% were illiterate. About 70% had age at onset of 5.9±3.5 years. Parental consanguinity was reported in 41%. Family history of epilepsy was reported in 17.3%. About 80% reported no etiology for epilepsy (idiopathic/cryptogenic group). CNS infection (68%), perinatal complications (20%) and head trauma (12%) were identified in the symptomatic group. Mental retardation was reported in 66.7%. Febrile convulsion was reported in 10.2%. Normal EEG was reported in 31.5%. About 48% had localization-related epilepsy while 42% and 9.5% had generalized and undetermined epilepsies. Frontal and temporal foci were common sites for producing epileptic discharges (37.7% for each). The generalized tonic-clonic seizures were frequent in generalized epilepsy (72.1%). Rolandic epilepsy was the most frequent type of age specific epileptic syndrome (26.9%). Conclusion Our study is considered a preliminary review for population-based epidemiological studies in childhood epilepsy in Upper Egypt. This will be of value in planning early prevention and management with proper revision of AEDs according to the available resources. Objectif Etudier la frequence et les aspects diagnostiques d\'une serie hospitaliere allant de la naissance a 18 ans, dans notre localite Methodes 127 patients sur une population de 565 vus en consultation d\'epilepsie en ambulatoire ont ete inclus ans cette serie Resultats 48% des patients avaient entre 12-18 ans, 78% etaient issues d\'une population rurale et 62% etaient illettres. Environ 70% estimaient le debut de leur maladie a 5,9+3,5 ans. Une consanguinite etait retrouvee dans 41% des cas.Des antecedents familiaux d\'epilepsie etaient retrouves dans 41% des cas. Aucune etiologie etait objectivee dans 80% des cas. Une infection du systeme nerveux central (68%), des complications perinatales (20%), et un traumatisme crânien (12%) etaient identifies dans le groupe symptomatique. Un retard mental etait observe dans 66,7% des cas et les convulsions febriles, 10,2%. La normalite de l\'EEG constituait 31,5% des patiens. 48% avaient une focalisation de l\'epilepsie tandis que 42% et 9,5% etaient respectivement generalises et indetermines. La topographie frontale et temporale etaient les zones presentant le plus de decharges paroxystiques (37.7%). Les crises tonico-cloniques repondaient frequentes et repondaient a une epilepsie generalisee. L\'epilepsie rolandiqe etait le type le plus frequent de l\'epilepsie - syndrome. Conclusion Notre etude est consideree comme etant preliminaire et portait sur une population d\'enfants epileptiques residant en Haute Egypte. Ces donnees devraient permettre la mise en place d\'une prevention et d\'un traitement par les antiepileptiques en tenant compte des ressources disponibles. Keywords : Epilepsy, Epidemiology, Egypt, Hospital-based / Egypte, Epidemiologie, Epilepsie, Hopital African Journal of Neurological Sciences Vol. 26 (1) 2007: pp. 33-44