Etiological Distribution of Seizures in Children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Seizures are the most common pediatric neurologic disorder, accounting 4% to 10% of children suffering at least one seizure in the rst 16 years of life. Worldwide, febrile seizures are the most common type of seizures in children. When seizures in children present with no apparent cause or with suspicion of CNS infection, clinical criteria with the advent of CSF analysis, EEG, neuroimaging techniques are helpful. It is important to identify the cause so that appropriate treatment is instituted at the earliest. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the distribution of type of seizures and etiology of seizures in children, with the aid of investigations wherever needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital based cross sectional study done at Navodaya medical college hospital and research Centre during 2020 January to 2021 June for a period of 12 months. Data is described in the terms of frequencies and percentages. Statistical analysis done using SPSS software version 26. RESULTS: Out of 140 children presented with seizures, majority were febrile seizures 48(34.29%), followed by CNS infections 33(23.57%), space occupying lesions 20(14.29%), epilepsy 19(13.57%), unidentiable 15(10.71%) and other causes 5(3.57%). CONCLUSIONS: Generalized seizures are more common in younger children whereas focal seizures in older children. Other than febrile seizures, clinical criteria with the advent of investigations useful in identifying etiology of which most commonly associated with focal seizures. After identifying cause, most of the seizures can be controlled by monotherapy with specic antiepileptic drugs.