Table 3 Seizures manifestation, main aetiological factors and outcome by age group of children with seizures
Description of seizures | Age group of patients | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | 0 – 1 month, N = 43, (%) | 2 – 5 months, N = 36, (%) | 6 – 36 months, N = 535, (%) | 37 – 72 months, N = 237 (%) | >72 months, N = 49, (%) |
Proportion with seizures | 43/736 (5.8) | 36/514 (7.0) | 580/2,374 (22.5) | 258/742 (31.9) | 55/555 (8.8) |
Parental description of seizure event | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Focal | 13 (30.2) | 7 (19.4) | 72 (13.5) | 21 (8.9) | 8 (16.3) |
   Focal, secondarily generalised | 6 (14.0) | 0 (0) | 25 (4.3) | 7 (3.0) | 0 (0) |
   Generalised | 21 (48.8) | 25 (69.4) | 423 (79.2) | 199 (84.0) | 39 (79.6) |
   Not described | 3 (7.0) | 4 (11.1) | 16 (3.0) | 10 (4.2) | 2 (4.1) |
Number of seizures, median (IQR) | 3 (2, 5) | 1 (1, 3) | 2 (1, 3) | 2 (1, 3) | 1 (1, 2) |
Level of consciousness at admission | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Normal | 31 (72.1) | 26 (72.2) | 401 (74.9) | 171 (72.2) | 33 (67.4) |
   Prostration or mild impairment | 8 (18.6) | 6 (16.7) | 73 (13.6) | 39 (16.5) | 5 (10.2) |
   Agitation | 3 (7.0) | 3 (8.3) | 8 (1.5) | 3 (1.3) | 3 (6.1) |
   Coma | 1 (2.3) | 1 (2.7) | 61 (10.5) | 29 (11.2) | 8 (14.6) |
Leading diagnoses associated with seizures by age group | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   1 | Neonatal sepsis 28 (65.1%) | Respiratory tract infections, 10 (27.8%) | Malaria, 303 (56.6%) | Malaria, 155 (65.4%) | Malaria, 18 (36.7%) |
   2 | Pyogenic meningitis, 7 (16.3%) | Acute gastroenteritis, 6 (16.7%) | Respiratory tract infections, 85 (15.9%) | Respiratory tract infections, 37(15.6%) | Respiratory tract infections, 6 (12.2%) |
   3 | Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, 5 (11.6%) | Pyogenic meningitis, 6 (16.2%) | Acute gastroenteritis, 27 (5.1%) | Acute gastroenteritis, 4 (1.7%) | Others 21 (42.9) |
Outcome | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Death | 7 (16.3) | 0 (0) | 15 (2.8) | 3 (1.3) | 3 (6.1) |
   Sequelae | 3 (7.0) | 1 (2.8) | 5 (0.9) | 3 (1.3) | 1 (2.0) |