Risk factors and Neurological Disability Associated with Epilepsy in Iraqi Children

A. Kareem, Adel; F. R. AL-Auqbi, Tawfeeq

	Risk factors and Neurological Disability Associated with Epilepsy in Iraqi Children
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 24, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 128-131
Authors
Adel A. Kareem; Tawfeeq F. R. AL-Auqbi
Abstract
Objective: To assess and describe the risk factors and neurological disability associated with epilepsy in children, in order to assist in early diagnosis and prompt management of epilepsy in children. Method: a cross sectional (descriptive) study; carried out from 3rd Feb. 2008 to 28th Feb. 2010, on 185 children, in the Pediatrics Neurology Clinic / Neuroscience Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Children were studied as two age groups, pre-school age group 152 children, and school age group 33 children. The relations of risk factors and associated Neurological disabilities with epilepsy were studied among both groups and analyzed statistically. Result: The male/female ratio was 1/0.73. The age range was 1 – 166 months with median of 36 month. Types of epilepsy were generalized 82.70% (153/185), about 95% of them were tonic- clonic seizure; the partial Epilepsy were 17.30% (32/185), about 96% of them was simple type. Electroencephalogram (EEG) findings as generalized, focal, hypsarrhythmia and normal were 79.45%, 17.29%, 0.021% and 0.016% respectively. Prevalence of risk factors in preschool age children was 62.5% (95/152) and in school age children was 51.5% (7/33). The probability of being epileptic at preschool age for those with risk factor was 62.45%. The probability of being epileptic at school age for those with risk factor was 51.45%. The most frequent risk factor encountered in pre-school children were the natal risk factors 58.9% (56/95), about 90% of these risk factors were birth Asphyxia, preterm delivery and Aspiration pneumonia; while in school age children the positive family history of epilepsy was the major risk factor 52.9% (9/17). The association of epilepsy with Neurological disability in preschool age group were 50.0% (76/152), mainly be as cerebral palsy (90%); while in the school age group were 12.12% (4/33) mostly be as learning and communication difficulties. Conclusion: The risk factors for epilepsy and associated neurological disability were varied in its type and incidence according to the age of children. Key words: epilepsy, risk factors, neurological disability
Keywords
epilepsy; risk factors; neurological disability

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