Authors: Raji Saheed Olanrewaju, Garba Tukur, Dambo Fatima, Adamu Hannatu, Ahmad Adam, Musa Kabir, Sulaiman Ridwanu.
Epileptic spasm is a type of seizure disorder, uncommonly diagnosed and under-recognized nosological condition with possibility of neuropsychological deterioration. This study aims to estimate the burden, identify the possible aetiological factors and the prognostic factors of epileptic spasm in psychiatric clinic of Sarkin Maska Shehu Hospital (SMASH) Funtua. Questionnaire detailing sociodemographic and clinical variables were administered to participants with symptoms of epileptic spasm who were recruited from psychiatric clinic over six months and followed up for another minimum period of six months. Data analysis was done with PSPP (free version of statistical package for social sciences, SPSS).
Data was collated from 57 out of 59 participants diagnosed of epileptic spasms during the study period. 30 (52.60%) were males, infancy was the modal age of symptom onset, though usually presented at toddlers and school age group with median frequency of 10-spasms per day. Cerebral Infection/infestation 16 (28.07%), precipitate labor 14 (24.56%) and hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy (HIE) 11(19.30%) were the leading contextual factors recognized in the study. Total spasm abatement was attained in 21 (56.76) out of 37 participants placed on prednisolone therapy. None of the factors studied is associated or predict response to prednisolone therapy.
Epileptic spasm is relatively common in the study setting. Onset is usually in infancy, though usually presented in toddler and school-age, with few adult onset and presentations. Cerebral Infection/infestation, precipitate labor and perinatal asphyxia were the leading contextual factors. Prednisolone was the only first-line treatment option in the study center with total symptom abatement in most participants.
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