Assessment Of Frequency of EEG Findings in Children with Epilepsy in A Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Epilepsy impacts around 46 million individuals worldwide, with an exacerbated incidence and mortality in lower-income settings Objective: To evaluate the use of EEG in determining the diagnosis of epilepsy, with its particular subtypes. This study also assessed the vital correlation between age and sex with subnormal EEG findings. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted at MMI Pead’s Memon Hospital, Karachi, from January 2020 to December 2020. Age ranges between 1 month and 18 years. Study evaluated the correlation of EEG findings. The EEG patterns was also assessed. EEG patterns were categorized as normal, abnormal with either background slowing or interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) or both, types of seizure and day of admission when the EEG was performed. Using SPSS latest version, association of age, and sex with abnormal EEGs was determined Results: Two-third of the children reported normal EEG, whereas abnormal background findings were observed in the remaining one-third. Inter- ictal epileptic discharge was noted on 18 EEG reports. This finding was most frequent in children within the age bracket of 30 months to more than 67 months. A combination of inter-ictal epileptic discharge and abnormal background findings were noted in children older than 49 months. However, hypsarrhythmia was noted in 2 subjects, both under 30 months of age. With regards to diagnosis, majority of the children categorized as having generalized epilepsy were over 67 months of age. Focal epilepsy was the second most frequent diagnosis, with majority under 30 months of age. On the association of EEG findings with sex, out findings were insignificant. Conclusions: EEG has been determined as the investigation of choice among patients with epilepsy, however it may have certain limitations in providing an accurate diagnosis, and must not be relied on as the sole determinant of epilepsy.