Precipitating factors of seizures in epileptic patients admitted to Omdurman Teaching Hospital Emergency Room 2015

Abstract

<jats:p>Introduction:&#x0D;
In epileptic patients, the seizures may be precipitated by certain factors that may be&#x0D;
intrinsic or extrinsic. Non-compliance, infections and sleep deprivation are common factors. There are few&#x0D;
studies looking at precipitating factors of seizures in epilepsy from the under- developed countries.&#x0D;
Objectives:&#x0D;
to determine the precipitating factors of seizures in epileptic patients in the ER.&#x0D;
Methods:&#x0D;
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study that enrolled 100 patients in&#x0D;
Omdurman Teaching Hospital.&#x0D;
Results:&#x0D;
in this study, 41% were non-compliant. The commonest age group was 21-30 years. Patients&#x0D;
presenting with status epilepticus were 13%. Two thirds of the sample were on mono-therapy, 50% of&#x0D;
which were compliant. Infections were reported in 14%; undetermined factors in 12%, sleep deprivation&#x0D;
8%; stress 6%; catamenial 5%; exertion 5%; photosensitivity 3%; music 2% and metabolic 1%.&#x0D;
Conclusion:&#x0D;
high burden of break-through seizures (29%) was reported in the age group 21-30 years.&#x0D;
Non-compliance was more common in patients with mono-therapy and in patients with non-idiopathic&#x0D;
generalized epilepsy. Stress, sleep deprivation-related seizures were reported in 6% and 8%, respectively.&#x0D;
In 12% of the patients, the precipitating factor was cryptogenic. Reflex and physical exercise were reported&#x0D;
in 5% and 3%, respectively. Alcohol was the least factor (1%) in precipitating seizures . Status epilepticus&#x0D;
was observed mainly in patients on mono-therapy.</jats:p>