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