To study clinical profile and correlation of EEG and CT findings in diagnosis of focal seizures in children at medical institution in mid – Karnataka region

Abstract

Focal-onset seizures account for approximately 40% of seizures in children. Focal seizures are most commonly associated with underlying brain pathology in extreme age groups. Clinical correlation and localizing the site of the lesion play an important role in the early diagnosis and proper management of focal seizures in children. Objectives: To study the clinical profile and correlation of EEG and CT findings in children admitted to the paediatric ward of Medical College.A prospective study on the correlation of focal seizures, CT brain, and EEG studies was carried out in children in the age group of 1 month–14 years admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at Medical College & Hospital, Karnataka. Among the (n=50) study subjects, the majority of the children with focal seizures were in the age group of 6–10 years, with a slight male preponderance.(n=22) (44% of the children) presented with focal-aware seizures. The most common brain lesions detected were calcified disc lesions and cysticercosis ring lesions (52%).45% of children with focal seizures had epileptiform discharges. We also observed that complementary to CT brain scans in correlating with the clinical history. It was noted that44% of children with focal seizures had normal CT brain scans and normal EEG studies. A good clinical history is crucial in the diagnosis of focal seizures. Most focal seizures are associated with underlying organic brain lesions. A CT brain scan plays an important role in the detection of brain lesions in children with focal seizures. The EEG study complements history and CT scan of the brain in defining and correlating the lesions precisely.