Women and epilepsy: Sudanese experience

Epilepsy is equally prevalent in men and women. However, for women there are unique concerns related to hormone effects on seizures and the effects of seizures and antiepileptic drugs [AEDs] on reproductive health. Some AEDs reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptive agents, increasing the probability of unplanned pregnancies. Seizure frequency may change during pregnancy, seizures may cause pregnancy complications, and the treatment of a woman with epilepsy must consider all these issues. To study the clinical presentation of epilepsy among adult Sudanese females and to verify aspects of epilepsy specific to women. This is a cross sectional descriptive non intervention clinical based study; it was carried out in Elshaab Teaching Hospital and El-shiekh Mohamed Kheir charity clinic, from February-2008 to June-2008. 630 female patients with epilepsy were included in the study. The study showed that 72% of the patients had generalized epilepsy and 28% had partial epilepsy, primary epilepsy is more common than secondary epilepsy, 54% of our patients had warning symptoms and 39.7% had triggering factors, irregular menstrual cycle was observed in 28%, 22% of our patients had catamenial seizures, 7.1% had increased frequency of seizures during pregnancy. Obstetric complications were common among our studied group. The incidence of infertility increased among our studied group. Women had differences in presentation and control of epilepsy that must be understood and considered when treating women with epilepsy

study of knowledge, attitude, practice towards epilepsy among relative of epileptic patients in Khartoum state

People with epilepsy are suffering from a lot of un tolded negative impacts on their lives; due to misunderstanding of the disease and from the associated stigma. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice among relatives of Sudanese epileptic patients seen in Sheik Mohamed Kheir Neurological clinic and Elshaab Teaching Hospital. This is a descriptive cross- sectional community based study, 313 respondents were included, the duration of the study was from November 2008 to June 2009. Most of the respondents knew the disease, and had witnessed an attack. One third mentioned a brain lesion as the underlying cause of epilepsy. Most of the respondents mentioned loss of consciousness as the major symptom. More than two thirds mentioned that it is not contagious. Most of the respondents claimed that it can be controlled, and two thirds preferred medical treatment. The study revealed that half of the respondents had shown favourable attitudes and practice. The study revealed that the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards epilepsy needs community educational programmes to fill the gaps, and minimize the stigma