Clinical pattern of seizures in hospitalized children

OBJECTIVE: Seizures continue to be a major problem in the pediatric age group. The cause and clinical presentation of these seizures are vast and variable. This is a prospective study, conducted with the aim of assessing the magnitude and presentation of this problem in the region of Al-Madina Al-Munawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: All the cases of seizures admitted to Madina Maternity & Children’s Hospital, Al-Madina Al-Munawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from April 2000 to July 2000 were included in the study. The age groups studied were from 8 days old to 14 years.

RESULTS: Out of 1593 patients admitted to the Pediatric Department, 138 (8.7%) were admitted with seizures. Fifty-one (37%) cases were of established epilepsy, 42 (30.4%) of febrile convulsions and 27 (19.6%) of hypocalcemic convulsions. The rest of the total includes first attack of non-febrile seizure, neonatal seizures, encephalitis and drug toxicity.

CONCLUSION: We observed and concluded that seizures due to epilepsy remain the most common cause, with febrile convulsion and hypocalcemic convulsion a second and third major causes. As observed, we also recommend further studies into the association of hypocalcemic seizures with underlying active rickets in the pediatric age group.