Precipitating factors of seizures in epileptic patients admitted to Omdurman teaching hospital emergency room 2015

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.