RESUMO
Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children and its treatment still remains a challenge for the physicians. Though there are a number of anti-epileptic drugs with varying mechanisms of action, their adverse effects, and drug interactions are to be analyzed before starting a therapy. Aim: To study the pattern of prescription in the treatment of pediatric seizures. Objectives: To observe the pharmaco-epidemiology, utilization pattern and effectiveness of monotherapy and polytherapy in the treatment of seizures in children aged above 2 years. Materials and methods: This prospective, longitudinal study was conducted for a period of 8months in Paediatric Neurology Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The data collected from 41 children at the end of the study, were compiled in a specially designed data form and were analyzed. Henry Daniel Raj T, Sylvia A, Chidambaranathan S, nirmala P. Monotherapy and polytherapy in Paediatric seizures: A prospective, observational study in a tertiary care teaching hospital. IAIM, 2017; 4(10): 97-104. Page 98 Results: The distribution of Paediatric seizures was found to be high in male children (62%) and in the age group of 2 to 5 years (46%). GTCS (85%) was the dominant type of seizure seen in children and 83% of the children were treated with monotherapy. Polytherapy was found to be efficacious compared to monotherapy, with a good seizure control (100%: 94%), good compliance and minimal adverse effects (14.2%: 14.7%). Conclusion: Monotherapy still remains the mainstay of treatment in pediatric seizures. Though polytherapy appears to be a better option in this study, epilepsy in children requires a long term treatment and hence adverse effects in long term and the effects of drug interactions are the main criteria to be taken care of. A study of longer duration in the treatment of pediatric seizures will provide a better knowledge in the adverse effects of polytherapy.
RESUMO
Krabbe disease is an extremely rare condition with an incidence of 1 in 1,00,000 live births. It is caused by deficient activity of the Iysosomal hydrolase galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase. A 6 years old male weighing 12 kg, was brought to Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital with complaints of convulsions. The full-term child was delivered by lower segment caesarean section to second-degree consanguineous parents. The baby cried immediately after birth. The child attained normal milestones till two years of age. Thereafter he lost his attained milestones. The child had dysmorphic face with features like anti-Mongoloid eyes and teeth anomaly. Skin was lax all over the body especially over the face and was bruised. Respiratory distress and upward gaze were present. Bilateral crepitations were heard. Pupils were dilated and sluggishly reacted to light.