Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6010756 Epilepsy & Behavior 2016 4 Pages PDF
Abstract

•We evaluated 125 children with epilepsy and their age and sex-matched peers without epilepsy for a history of injury.•Children with epilepsy showed a significantly increased frequency of injuries.•Soft tissue injuries, head injuries and dental injuries are the commonest•High seizure frequency and use of more than one AED are associated with an increased risk of injuries•The paper is a significant addition to the few reports on the pattern of injuries in African children with epilepsy

BackgroundChildren with epilepsy are reported to be at a greater risk of injuries compared with their peers who do not have epilepsy.ObjectivesWe set out to determine the frequency and pattern of seizure-related injuries in children with epilepsy seen at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodsConsecutive cases of epilepsy seen at the pediatric neurology clinic of the UCH, Ibadan over a period of 6 months were evaluated for injuries in the preceding 12 months using a structured questionnaire. These were compared with age- and sex-matched controls.ResultsA total of 125 children with epilepsy and 125 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Injuries occurred more frequently in children with epilepsy than in their peers (p = 0.01, OR 1.935, 95% CI 1.142-3.280). Epilepsy was generalized in 80 (64.0%), and localization-related in 45 (36.0%). Idiopathic epilepsy accounted for 74 (59.2%), and the remaining 51 (40.8%) had remote symptomatic epilepsy. Fifty-seven (45.6%) children had suffered seizure-related injuries with multiple injuries in 31 (24.8%). The most frequent were skin/soft tissue lacerations (26.4%), injuries to the tongue and soft tissues of the mouth (19.2%), minor head injuries (15.2%), and dental injuries with tooth loss (8.0%). There was a statistically significant association between seizure frequency and seizure-related injuries (p = 0.002). Children on polytherapy had a significantly higher frequency of seizure-related injuries (p < 0.001).ConclusionEpilepsy is a major risk factor for injuries in childhood. High seizure frequency increases the risk of multiple injuries in children with epilepsy.

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