Hernández-Gutiérrez MI, Lazo-Gómez RE, Torres-Vielmas R

Language: Spanish
References: 6
Page: 6-9
PDF size: 482.55 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases at any group of age, specially pediatrics. All physicians will have a case of this pathology in his practice, therefore the main importance to knowledge this disease.
Objective: Describe the clinical features in pediatrics in Neurology´s out patients office in Hospital Civil Fray Antonio Alcalde.
Methods: The study was performed getting patients data from Neuropediatric department of the HCFAA, whit visits of the out patients office between july and august 2010. Included criteria was any patient with epilepsy diagnosis and seizures episodes, resulting a group of 48 patients. Variables such as sex, age, age of onset, and date of first consult were in considerations. Characteristics like semiology, type of crisis, focalization, lateralization, comorbilities, possession of electroencephalogram were taken in consideration for the description of the patients convulsive crisis or a syndrome. Finally variables related to antiepileptic treatment were considered, such as medication, doses, side effects, and knowing if the crisis are controled.
Results: Of a total of 48 patients, 20.8% (n=10) came to consult for the first time. 56.2% (n=27) were female, while 43.75% (n=21) were male. The average age of patients was 8.7 years. The average onset age was 5.3 years, and the time between the first event and the first consult was an average of 6.6 months. 64.5% (n=31) of patients presented a partial onset, from which 22.9% (n=11) of them were later generalized. The rest remain focalized. In matter of partial crisis, 71% (n=22) were simple, and 25.8% (n=8) were complex. 8.3% (n=4) had status epilepticus, 79.2% (n=38) didn't, and 12.5%(n=6) have not enough proof for affirming or denying it. 43.7% (n=21) of cases were able to integrate an epileptic syndrome. The associated comorbilities with epileptic crisis were in a 45.8% (n=22) due to idiopathic causes, 29.2% (n=14) symptomatic, and 25% (n=12) cryptogenic. The most used antiepileptic drug was magnesium valproate, as a monotherapy in a 37.5% (n=18), and 22.9% (n=11) in combination. 75% (n=36) correspond to patients with monotherapy, from this, 47.2% (n=17) had good control over the crisis. In patients with politherapy (25%) a good control over crisis was achieved in 16.7% (n=2) of cases. In general, the control of epileptic crisis peaks around 43.7% (n=19).

REFERENCES

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