Clinical profile and spectrum of epilepsy in rural Rajasthan.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted at a rural primary health centre of Rajasthan with the aim to study the clinical profile of epilepsy, to assess the efficacy and side effects of antiepileptic drugs and to educate the patients. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty four patients were studied over a period of one year. Seizures were classified according to International League Against Epilepsy Classification (1981). Detailed clinical history and neurological examination was done in all patients. Routine blood tests, computerised tomography of head and electroencephalogram (EEG) were done only in few patients due to non-availability and limited resources. All patients were given free medicines and followed up monthly for assessing the compliance, the response and side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. RESULTS: MaleFemale ratio was 21. Mean age of onset was 9.8 yrs. Generalized tonic and clonic seizures was the commonest type (82%) of seizures. Eighty one percent patients had onset of seizures before 20 years of age. Sixty eight percent were fully controlled on drugs. Fifty percent were controlled on monotherapy and 15% required more than two drugs. CONCLUSION: Most of the epileptic patients can be managed at rural centre without sophisticated investigations.