Recurrence Risk of Febrile Seizures in Children.

Introduction: Febrile seizure is a common paediatric problem. Identifying children with febrile seizure who are at risk for recurrence is important so that special attention can be given to them. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for recurrence of febrile seizures in children. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study done at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. This study is a continuation of a previous study which looked at the leucocytosis in peripheral blood of children with febrile seizure. A detailed history including the risk factors for febrile seizure recurrence was obtained from the caregiver during follow up on subsequent days after discharge of children from the hospital who were previously admitted for febrile seizure. All children with febrile seizure belonging to age group of 6 months to 6 years were included in the study. Those with afebrile seizures or on anticonvulsants and those who refused to give consent were excluded. Each child was also examined and investigated for the cause of fever. Results: A total of 115 children with febrile seizure admitted for febrile seizure during the study period and all of them were followed up at outpatient department. Males accounted 62% and females 38%. Simple Febrile Seizures were seen in 80% of the cases and complex febrile seizures were seen in 20%. Out of all the cases 68(59%) had symptoms of viral prodrome. 59(51%) had recurrent febrile seizure. Low temperature at onset of Febrile Seizure (p=0.001), short duration of fever before onset of Febrile Seizure (0.026) and atypical Febrile Seizure (p=0.022) were the risk factors for recurrent febrile seizure. Conclusion: Febrile Seizure is a common paediatric problem commonly seen in males. Almost half of children with Febrile Seizure are at risk for recurrence in later date. The risk factors for these recurrences are modest rise in body temperature at the onset of febrile seizure, onset of seizure within 12 hours of fever and atypical presentation.

A study of abdominal pain in children.

Pain abdomen is a common pediatric complaint that brings patient to the hospital in Nepal. Knowledge about its etiology and frequency helps in its evaluation and management. The present study was undertaken to find out the causes and their frequency of pain abdomen in Nepali children. Children with pain abdomen presenting at the emergency room and pediatric outpatient department of Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu from January, 2006 to December 2007 were clinically evaluated and investigated to find out the causes and frequency of their pain abdomen. The outcomes were tabulated and analyzed for interpretation. Of 444 patients attended, 356 completed investigations and came for follow up. Cause of pain abdomen was apparent in 117 (32.9%) only. 91.5% were medical causes, comprising predominantly of diarrheal diseases (28.3%), infantile colic (9.4%), urinary tract infection (7.7%) and acid peptic disease (6.8%). 8.5% causes were related to surgical conditions, which needed operative management. Secondary or extra-abdominal causes were found in 20 cases (17.1%). Pneumonia (2), functional (5), vulvovaginitis (2) and infantile colic (11) were predominant causes. Our study showed that the causes of pain abdomen in children were predominantly medical. Gastroenteritis was the most frequent cause. Secondary causes, including functional and emotional causes were infrequent. Small percentage needing surgical management formed a diagnostic challenge.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs.

Commonly used conventional antiepileptic drugs for pharmacotherapy in epilepsy are phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproic acid. These drugs have complex pharmacokinetic properties leading to fluctuation in their plasma level at given same therapeutic dose. The present study was done to monitor their plasma levels. A prospective observational study was conducted at National Public Health Laboratory. After taking detail history, blood samples were taken from epileptic patients of all age groups and both gender who were on usual therapeutic dose of one or two combined antiepileptic drugs. Plasma level of these drugs were analyzed by using Fluorescence Polarization Immuno Assay (FPIA) technique. Out of total 417 testing, 81 were tested for phenytoin , 241 for carbamazepine and 95 for valproic acid. Their levels were further analyzed to find therapeutic, subtherapeutic and toxic levels. Out of total 81 blood samples tested for phenytoin, 38.8% had plasma drug at therapeutic level, 38.8% at subtherapeutic level and 28.4% had toxic level. Carbamazepine was tested in 241 samples and 79.3% cases had at therapeutic drug level, 15.8% had subtherapeutic drug level and 4.9% had toxic level. Out of 95 samples tested for valproic acid, 62% had therapeutic level and 20% had subtherapeutic and 18% had toxic level of drug. Therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin showed wide fluctuation in its plasma level. Its toxic and subtherapeutic levels were quite high. It is suggested that the dose of phenytoin should be adjusted after regular plasma level monitoring only. Monitoring of carbamazepine and valproic acid were also helpful when their toxicity and efficacy are doubtful.

Efficacy and tolerability of Ketotifen in Nepalese asthmatic children: a clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Ketotifen in asthmatic children and to record its adverse effects, if any. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. SETTING: Pediatric asthma follow up clinic of a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 23 asthmatic children between 3 and 15 years; 100% completed the trial on full protocol. INTERVENTIONS: Ketotifen 1mg (adjusted according to body weight, 50 mcg/kg/dose) orally twice daily for 9 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome: Decrease in frequency of asthmatic attacks and severity of exacerbations with improvements in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR). Other measures included decrease in bronchodilator requirement, steroid doses and parental perception regarding patient quality of life. RESULTS: 34.78% children were symptom free by the end of 2nd 3 months and 65.21% had no further attack by the end of 3rd 3 months of Ketotifen prophylaxis. Those children with activity and sleep 'affected' (8.69%) and 'may be affected' (30.43%) together improved to 'may be affected' group (21.73%) by the end of 2nd 3 months and further reduced to 8.69% by the conclusion of 3rd 3 months. The duration of exacerbations was reduced in the remaining cases. Variability of PEFR decreased from 26.08% to 8.69% of children after the 3rd 3 months of Ketotifen prophylaxis. No significant adverse effect of therapy was observed during the study. CONCLUSION: Oral Ketotifen is effective and well tolerated for use in prophylactic treatment of bronchial asthma in children.

Salient and co-morbid features in benign prostatic hyperplasia: a histopathological study of the prostate.

OBJECTIVES: To study the salient histological features of prostatic tissues in relation to age and to analyse the co-morbid histopathological changes in benign prostatic hyperplasia. (BPH). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Histopathology unit of a busy clinical pathological laboratory in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. SUBJECTS: 106 prostatic biopsy specimens from patients diagnosed as BPH received for histopathological examination during 2001-2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prominent histological features observed in prostatic biopsy specimens obtained from patients of various age groups and frequency of co-morbid histopathological changes in benign prostatic hyperplasia. RESULTS: Prominent histological features. All (106) specimens included in the series had BPH showing glandulostromal proliferation of which 4 cases (3.77%) (all aged below 70 years) showed predominantly stromal pattern. Corpora amylacea present in 25% (in 5th decade) increased in frequency to 100% (8th decade onwards) in the later years. Cystically dilated glands also showed age correlated increase (through 5th to 8th decade) from 50% to 100%. Other prominent features observed with an overall decreasing frequency in all age groups (taken together) were glands showing papillary infoldings (44.33%), lymphocytic collection/infiltration (31.13%), proteinaceous material (7.54%), calcification (6.60%), homogenous eosinophilic material (2.83%), and glands showing necrotic cells (1.88%).Of all these, corpora amylacea, proteinaceous material, cystically dilated glands and glands showing papillary infoldings were present in all cases beyond 7th decade. Co-morbid histopathological changes of BPH. Twenty six specimens (24.52%) showed co-morbid features in association with BPH which included inflammatory (16.98%) and neoplastic (7.54%). Acute prostatitis was observed in 2 cases (1.88%), chronic prostatitis in 16 cases (15.09%) and none showed features of both. Neoplastic changes( 8 cases) ranged from intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN) (2 cases), atypical glands (2 cases, both in 7th decade) to adenocarcinomatous changes (2 cases, one each in 6th and 7th decade) were also observed co-existent with BPH. Both PIN cases (1.88%) were grade PIN-2 and occurred one each in the 6th and 7th decade. CONCLUSION: Histological profiles of prostatic biopsy specimens were observed to correlate well with the senile changes of advancing age. A predominantly stromal proliferation was found in a relatively lower age group, while corpora amylacea and cystically dilated glands along with glandular proliferation heralded changes of senescence. Co-morbid histopathological features were associated with BPH in a quarter (24.52%) of cases. Prostatitis was twice as common as neoplastic changes. Adenocarcinomatous changes were observed (2 cases) incidentally. PIN was recorded in 1.88% of specimens examined. Peak frequency of prostatitis was noted in the 6th decade while 7 of 8 neoplastic changes occurred in those of 60-80 years.

Epilepsy in children: an epidemiological study at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital Kathmandu.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relative frequencies of various epileptic seizures and to study the age at onset of different seizure types in Nepalese children. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Hospital outpatient based in Kathmandu, Nepal, between November 2001 to October 2002. PARTICIPANTS: 50 children diagnosed as epilepsy excluding neonatal and febrile seizures. Main outcome measure: Diagnosis and classification of cases according to the International Classification of Epilepsy of the International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE] and number of patients in each category with various ages at first seizure. RESULT: Generalized seizures (78%) were 3.54 times commoner than partial seizures (22%). Most frequent seizure types were generalized tonic clonic (36%), tonic (16%), complex partial (14%), atonic (12%) and absence (10%). Generalized clonic, simple partial and partial with secondary generalization, each had less than 5% frequencies. In 40% cases the first seizure occurred when aged between 2-5 years. In partial seizures the peak age at onset was observed below 6 years while primary generalized seizure was more frequently seen in age group 2-10 years. CONCLUSION: More paediatric patients with primary generalized seizures (78%) were observed than with partial seizures (22%). In this age group, the most frequent seizure type was generalized tonic clonic (36%) with the peak frequency of age at onset of seizures in 2-5 years.