title: Clinical pattern of seizures in hospitalized children.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Madina Maternity and Children`s Hospital, PO Box 4147, Al-Madina Al-Munawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (4) 8380250. Fax. +966 (4) 8387465. E-mail: mdad10@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohammad I
authors: MI
authors: Dad
authors: Ghousia A
authors: GA
authors: Ismael
authors: Abdulhameed A
authors: AA
authors: Al-Oufi
authors: Ali H
authors: AH
authors: Al-Mohammadi