Quality of Life of Epileptic Children at the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract

Aim:To evaluate the quality of life of epileptic children. Methods and Material:This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken from 1st January 2014 to 1st May 2014 in children aged 3-16 years with epilepsy who followed up in the pediatric neurology unit of the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital in Yaounde in Cameroon. Parents responded to the quality of life questionnaire for children with epilepsy, Results: Eighty-six patients with a mean age of 8.8 ± 4.2 years were included in the study. Epilepsy was associated with poor quality of life in 18 (20.9%) patients and was mainly in children with non-idiopathic generalized epilepsy, behavioral disorders, and cognitive deficits. Social, behavioral, cognitive and depressive disorders were noted in 43 (50%), 17 (19.8%), 23 (26.7%) and 55 (63.9%), respectively. In 17 (19.8%) children, clinical examination was abnormal. Twenty (23%) children were not attending school. Conclusion:Epileptic children have a decline in their quality of life, and this is multifactorial, and controlling epileptic seizures alone does not appear to be a sufficient factor to improve the quality of life of these children.