Co-morbidity of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder among A Sample of Egyptian Children with Idiopathic Epilepsy Attending Outpatient Clinic in Al Hussein University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex disorder that affects about 5:8% of school-aged children worldwide. Many researchers reported increased prevalence of ADHD among epileptic children. Objectives: Detection of the prevalence of ADHD among a sample of Egyptian epileptic children attending Al Hussein University Hospital, Neurology clinic, & determination of associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at Al Hussein University Hospital, Neurology Clinic, starting at January 2016 until January 2017. The study was conducted on Egyptian patients aged 3: 18 years with an affirmed diagnosis of epilepsy for one year or more. Data was gathered using a questionnaire performed by the interviewer. ADHD was diagnosed according to (DSM-IV TR). Results: Our study included 160 epileptic children. In our sample 102 patients had Generalized Tonic-clonic seizures and 13 had Absence seizures, 45 patients had Partial epileptic seizures. (26.3%) of the epileptic patients included had ADHD. We reported that partial epileptic seizure type; duration of epilepsy over 2 years and uses of more than one anti-epileptic drug were significantly associated with increased risk of having ADHD, and that having Partial epileptic seizures and use of more than one antiepileptic agent were independent predictors for ADHD. Conclusions: 26.3% of epileptic children in this study had associated ADHD. Partial epileptic seizure type, duration of epilepsy over 2 years and use of more than one antiepileptic drug were significantly associated with ADHD. Recommendations: Further studies are needed on large number of epileptic children.