title: Aetiology and Precipitants of Epileptic Seizures among Nigerians Treated at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy is a common neurological illness in Nigeria with a prevalence of 5-37 per 1000 in a rural population. Several studies suggest that the prevalence of epilepsy is higher in developing than developed countries due to the preponderance of more risk factors in the former. This study investigated the aetiological factors and precipitants of epileptic seizures among patients attending outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria from October 2008 to April 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty two consecutive adult patients with history of at least 2 unprovoked afebrile seizures were investigated for seizure patterns, aetiological and precipitating factors through history, physical examinations, laboratory tests and electroencephalography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male to female ratio of study population was 3 (69%): 1(31%), with respective mean ages of 29.5±12.4and 30.7 ± 16.0years. Their respective mean ages of onset of first seizures were 18.6 ±14.0and 20.9 ±17.4 years. 88% of seizures were of focal origin (complex partial, 80%; simple partial, 8%). Although the causes and precipitants were unknown in 41% and 68% of cases respectively; head injury, neonatal asphyxia and psychoactive substance abuse were prominent aetiological factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although majority of epileptic seizures in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria were of focal origin, majority of causes and precipitants remained largely unknown.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Departments of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 06 Shika-Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Obiako
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kehinde
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Iwuozo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekele
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Okungbowa
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kalu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhammed
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Aniweta