18. Determine the Causes of Epilepsy, Types of Seizure, Precipitants for Seizure Attacks and Risk Factors for Poor Outcome of Epilepsy Management
Abdul Bari, Nimrah Zafar, Sadia Khan, Anum Zahra and Muhammad Saleem Barech
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the causes of epilepsy, types of seizure, precipitants for seizure attacks and risk factors for poor outcome of epilepsy management
Study Design: Prospective study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta from October 2018 to March 2019.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients of both genders with ages above 15 years presented with epilepsy were included in this study. Patient’s demographic details including age sex, residence and socio-economic status were recorded after informed consent. Patients with autoimmune diseases and patients with serious psychiatric symptoms were excluded. Electroencephalogram, computed tomography brain and magnetic resonance imaging were done in all the patients. Causes of epilepsy, risk factors, types of seizure and outcomes were recorded.
Results: Seventy (65%) were males while 50 (35%) were females. Twenty (16.67%) patients were ages 15 to 25 years, 38 (31.67%) patients were ages 26 to 35 years, 45 (37.5%) patients were ages 36 to 45 years, 17 (14.17%) patients were ages 46 to 60 years. The most common etiology of epilepsy was idiopathic and found in 102 (85%) patients. Tonic clonic was the most frequent types found in 79.17% patients. Stress was the most common risk factors found in 43.33% followed by sleep deprivation, excessive screen use. Epilepsy due to structural brain lesion was the most important cause of poor control of fits followed by noncompliance, wrong/suboptimal dose of medications, drug interactions and wrong diagnosis.
Conclusion: Idiopathic was the commonest type and stress was the commonest cause of epilepsy. Structural brain lesion and non-compliance were the commonest risk factors involved in the poor management of epilepsy. Key Words: Epilepsy, Causes, Types, Management, Risk factors, Uncontrolled fits
Citation of article: Bari A, Zafar N, Khan S, Zahra A, Barech MS. Determine the Causes of Epilepsy, Types of Seizure, Precipitants for Seizure Attacks and Risk Factors for Poor Outcome of Epilepsy Management. Med Forum 2020;31(2):67-70.