Evaluation of Pediatric Patients with First Seizure

Abstract

Objective: Pediatric seizure is a condition that occurs due to many different underlying causes and causes fear and anxiety in families. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate pediatric seizure cases who applied to our hospital. Methods: Patients aged 0-18 years, who applied to the pediatric emergency department of our hospital between May 2018 and May 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, seizure types, familial genetic predisposition, examination, treatment and follow-up. Seizures were divided into 2 groups as focal and generalized according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2017 classification. The treatment methods applied with cranial magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography recordings of the patients were evaluated. Results: Of the 118 patients included in the study, 70 (59 %) were girls and 48 (41 %) were boys. The mean age was 60 (3-192) months. Family history was present in 18 (15 %) cases. 8 (7 %) of the seizures are partial and 110 (93 %) of them are generalized. Since seizure recurrence was observed within 24 hours in 5 of 36 patients who were evaluated as febrile seizures, they were evaluated as complicated febrile seizures and drug treatment was started. The other 31 patients were evaluated as simple febrile seizures. There was no biochemical abnormality in the seizure etiology in any of the cases. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed polymicrogyria in 2 patients, hydrocephalus in 2 patients, brain tumor in 1 patient, and arteriovenous malformation in 1 patient. Conclusions: In cases presenting with seizures, the underlying causes should be identified and their treatment should be arranged. Cases with recurrent seizures should also be followed closely.