Incidence and profile of intractable epilepsies in a pediatric neurology referral center

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was done in a pediatric neurology referral center over 2 yr. Our aim was to study the incidence and profile of intractable epilepsies. Children of either sex; presented with seizures were screened for intractability. Children with intractable seizures were further evaluated for intractability. Two hundred and sixty one children with seizures were identified as having intractable epilepsy. Pseudo-intractability was observed in 69% (non-epileptic events 35%, poor compliance, precipitating factors and surgical causes 24%, neurological symptoms wrongly diagnosed as seizures and pseudo seizures following true seizures in 9%). True medical intractability constituted 31%.