Clinico etiological profile of seizures in adults attending a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Seizures are one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in adults. There are many studies based on the old seizure and epilepsy classification system but there are only few studies on the clinical profile and cause of seizures. The present study attempted to explore the clinical and etiological profile of seizures in adults above 18 years of age in our tertiary care hospital.Methods: This was a cross sectional study on 100 seizure participants having EEG abnormality. Patient seizure type was classified according to clinical features. History taking and physical examination of all selected participants were done and investigations were done and recorded to find the etiology according to proforma.Results: GTCS was the most common seizure type accounting for 57%. Ischemic infarct was most common cause of post stroke seizures. Hypoglycemia was most common metabolic cause of seizures. Bacterial meningitis was most common cause of seizures due to infections. Stroke was the most common aetiology accounting for 21%. Focal seizures were seen predominantly in participants with calcified granuloma. In participants with alcohol withdrawal GTCS was the predominant seizure type.Conclusions: GTCS was the most common type of seizure in present study. Stroke was the most common cause of seizures and rheumatic heart disease was most common cause of seizures due to stroke in young participants. Seizures due to alcohol withdrawal were on the rise.