Distinctive Clinico-electrographic and Radiological Profile of Childhood and Adolescent Seizures

Abstract

Aim: Electroencephalogram (EEG) is specific, but not sensitive, for the diagnosis of epi- lepsy. This study aimed to correlate the clinico-electrographic and radiological features of seizure disorders in children attending a tertiary care centre in northern India. Methods: Children aged between one to 18 years with seizure episodes were included. Clinical de- tails, including historical as well as physical findings, were evaluated along with EEG and neuroim- aging (Magnetic resonance imaging). Details were noted on pre-designed proforma. Variables were analysed by using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 110 children with seizures were enrolled in the study. Male to female ratio was 1.6: 1, and the mean age of the study children was 8 years. The majority of the children were symp- tomatic for more than one year. The most common seizure type was Generalised Tonic Clonic Sei- zure (GTCS), and Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) sequelae was the most commonly at- tributed etiology, followed by neurocysticercosis. EEG and neuroimaging findings were found to correlate well with seizure semiology from history. The incidence of febrile seizures was 10% in this study, with nearly three-fourths of them being simple febrile seizures. Conclusion: Microcephaly and developmental delay were the most distinctive clinical correlates in children with seizures. There was a fair agreement between the types of seizures described in histo- ry and depicted on EEG with Cohen’s kappa of 0.4. Also, there was a significant association be- tween the type of seizures on EEG and the duration of symptoms.