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 epilepticus 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%; photosensitivity 3%; music 2% and metabolic 1%. Conclusion: 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 and physical exercise were reported in 5% and 3%, respectively. Alcohol was the least factor (1%) in precipitating seizures . Status epilepticus was observed mainly in patients on mono-therapy.