Seizure precipitants in children with intractable epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the seizure precipitants in children with intractable epilepsy, and to determine any distinctive clinical features contributing to seizures in these patients.


METHODS
A questionnaire and seizure diary prepared by the parents of the patients. Demographic and seizure data were reviewed.


RESULTS
Of 120 patients with intractable epilepsy, 74 (62%) had one (n=43), two (n=23), or three seizure precipitants (n=8). The three most common precipitants were illness or fever (32%), sleep deprivation (13%), and menstruation (10%). Of these precipitants, inducing factors (endogenous origin) were more common than triggering factors (exogenous origin): 73% versus 27%, respectively. Three distinctive clinical features - neurological abnormalities (P=0.01), status epilepticus (P=0.017), and abnormal neuroimaging (P=0.007) - were significantly more common in patients with than in patients without precipitants.


CONCLUSIONS
Prompt recognition and management of seizure precipitants has practical implications for treating patients with refractory epilepsy. Such patients can be counseled to avoid specific precipitants.
Fang
Peng-Cheng
PC
Department of Pediatrics, Sin-Lau Christian Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chen
Yung-Jung
YJ
Lee
Inn-Chi
IC
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000927:Anticonvulsants