Skip Navigation

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1989 35(4):163-168; doi:10.1093/tropej/35.4.163
© 1989 by Oxford University Press
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Iloeje, S. O.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Iloeje, S. O.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

research-article

The Pattern of Childhood Epilepsy with Mental Retardation in Nigeria

S. O. Iloeje, BSc, MB, BCh, FMC Paed, FWACP

Institute of Child Health, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria

Of 580 epileptic children, 353 males and 227 females, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, from 1985 to 1987,18 per cent were mentally retarded, a much higher prevalence rate than in the general population. Nine different seizure types were seen, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) leading in frequency. The highest incidence of mental retardation occurred among the children with infantile spasms (51 per cent).

For all the seizure types, there was a long delay in seeking medical attention (mean interval, 1.7 years). The mean interval for epileptics with mental retardation was even higher (2.77 years).

Factors found to increase the chances of an epileptic child having mental retardation include episodes of status epilepticus, early age at onset of seizures, and long delay before presentation to hospital for treatment.

There is need for increased efforts aimed at the elimination of these factors and also for a well organized programme to educate the population about the nature of epilepsy, and the importance of compliance with the treatment schedule.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Trop PediatrHome page
R. C. Ibekwe, N. C. Ojinnaka, and S. O. Iloeje
Factors Influencing the Academic Performance of School Children with Epilepsy
J Trop Pediatr, October 1, 2007; 53(5): 338 - 343.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.