CLINICAL PRESENTATION, CAUSE, AND SHORT-TERM OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN TIKUR ANBESSA SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA: A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Status epileptics(SE) has an increased incidence and poor out come in resource-limited countries where infectious disease like malaria, meningitis are in higher rates and where also health care system is limited. Researches in this setting are limited particularly in pediatrics .We aimed to see the clinical presentation, causes and short-term outcome of chil-dren with SE.
Methodology: A 5-year cross- section study was conducted from January 2005 to January 2010. Children with age above 1 one month and age less than 13 years were included. Data entered and analyzed with SPSS version 16.
Result: Eighty-nine patients were found during the study period. Generalized tonic-clonic sei-zure was the commonest type of seizure (74.8%). Only 28% arrive within 2 hours of presenta-tion. There was a previous history of seizure disorder in 34(38.2%) of the cases. Temperature greater than 38oc was documented for 40 (44.9%) patients at presentation. From the febrile group at presentation 26/40(65%) had an acute central nerves system (CNS) infection who were previously neurologically normal. Patients with acute CNS infection had pyogenic meningitis in 18(69.2%), CNS Tuberculosis 5(19%) and viral meningitis 3(11.5%) cases. None of the patients received intravenous anti-epileptic drug except diazepam; 51 (57.3%) patients discharged improved with no squeal, 32(36.0%) had a neurologic deficit (5 were having a neurologic abnormality at admission), there were 6(6.7%) deaths. All deaths occur in acute symptomatic SE. HIV infection was found to be statically associated with poor outcome p-value < 0.05.
Conclusion and recommendation: Most of the patients with SE arrived late to hospital and mortality was found to be high in acute symptomatic SE. To improve patient care and outcome there should be health education and improve the care of symptomatic SE like providing intra-venous anticonvulsant.