
Socio-demographic, Clinicoaetiological and Treatment Profile of Children with Epilepsy Aged 6 to 15 Years: A Cross-sectional Study from Western Maharashtra, India
SC08-SC12
Correspondence
Dr. Amodini Arora,
House No. 701, Building Aster 5, Sukhwani Complex, Vallabhnagar, Pimpri, Pune-411018, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: amodiniarora@gmail.com
Introduction: The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) task force proposed that epilepsy be considered a disease of the brain defined by any of the following conditions: 1) At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart; 2) One unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures occurring over the next 10 years; 3) A diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.
Aim: To study the sociodemographic, clinicoaetiological and treatment profile among children with epilepsy aged 6-15 years.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India over a period of 24 months from July 2022 to July 2024. A total of 98 children, aged 6-15 years, diagnosed with epilepsy of any aetiology and with a duration of at least six months, seen in the Outpatient Department (OPD) or admitted in the ward of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, comprised the study population. A detailed medical and neurological history, along with clinical examinations, was documented using a structured clinical proforma. The type of epilepsy and its syndromic classification were also determined.
Results: The mean age of the study population was 9.17 years, with a male gender preponderance. Eighty-five (86.7%) children were born preterm. Normal vaginal delivery was the most common mode of delivery, occurring in 63 (64.3%). A total of 69 (70.4%) had a normal weight at birth. Thirty-five (35.7%) of the study subjects required admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Fifty-five (56.1%) exhibited developmental delay, and IQ assessment revealed borderline IQ in the majority, with 58 (59.1%) subjects falling into this category. The commonest age of onset of seizures was greater than 5 years in 43 (43.9%) subjects. Twenty-nine (29.6%) had epilepsy for more than 2-5 years. Focal onset seizures were the most common, occurring in 66 (67.4%), and 14 (14.3%) experienced seizures daily. Fifty-three (54.1%) experienced uncontrolled seizures and belonged to the refractory category. Abnormal neurological findings were seen in 56 (57.1%) subjects. Seventy-one (72.4%) had abnormal Electroencephalogram (EEG) findings. Fifty-eight (59.2%) subjects received polytherapy. One (1.0%) patient underwent epilepsy surgery, 10 (10.2%) were on a ketogenic diet, while 87 (88.8%) subjects were on drug therapy alone. Structural aetiology was identified in a majority, with 49 (50%) subjects, and the most commonly administered Anti-Seizure Medication (ASM) was levetiracetam.
Conclusion: Children with epilepsy require prompt stabilisation and resuscitation, along with meticulous history-taking, detailed examination and stepwise implementation of laboratory investigations, EEG and neuroimaging to delineate the underlying aetiology and plan treatment for better prognostic outcomes.