Clinical and epidemiological characterization of epileptic children with difficult control

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is an alteration of the central nervous system due to an increase and abnormal synchronization of electrical activity, which can be manifested by recurrent, spontaneous, intense and unpredictable episodes. Objective: To characterize epileptic children who are difficult to control according to clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with epileptic children of difficult control seen in the neuro-pediatric consultation of the outpatient center in the provincial pediatric hospital of Camagüey between September 2019 and February 2020. The sample consisted of 69 children. Behavior was evaluated by age, sex, age of onset, prenatal, perinatal and postnatal history, family history, type of seizure, electroencephalographic manifestations and drugs used. Results: Male sex prevailed in patients with difficult to-control epilepsy and the infant stage was the most represented in terms of age of onset. The most identified etiology was perinatal, with hypoxia prevailing at birth. Generalized seizures were the majority in these patients. The most widely used drug was sodium valproate, with the highest percentage of patients in the live controlled state. Conclusions: Males and the 6 to 9-year-old group were the most representative with a predominance of onset in lactation. Of the causal factors, perinatal and perinatal asphyxia were the most relevant, with generalized seizures being the most identified. Almost all of the patients presented electroencephalographic manifestations. The most commonly used drug was sodium valproate.