Evaluation of Side Effects of Anti-Seizure Drugs Among Sudanese Children with Epilepsy in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Treatment of epilepsy with anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) for 2-5 years is important to control epileptic seizures.  Side effects of ASDs are well recognised and affect treatment outcomes if ASDs are severe. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based study was conducted on 67 children with epilepsy on follow-up visits at a neurology referral clinic in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Central Sudan, from February 2022 to July 2022.  Side effects of ASDs were measured using the Pediatric Epilepsy Side Effects Scale (PESQs).  Data were entered into the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, and descriptive analysis was done to calculate frequencies and percentages and chi-square test for association.  The P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Gender assessment showed that 36 (53.7%) of study patients were male.  43(64.2%) of participants had low severity of side effects, 14(20.9%) had low–moderate severity, and 8(11.9%) had no side effects. Significant associations were found between age and cognitive side effects (P-value .008); epilepsy type and cognitive side effects (P-value .026); seizure frequency and behavioural side effects (P-value .018); Type of ASD and behavioural side effects (P-value .000) and; type of ASD and neurological side effects (P-value .004).