[P1-42] Refractory Epilepsy in Children
This study aimed to find out the proportion of refractory epilepsy patients, the clinical profile and factors associated with refractory epilepsy in Myanmar children . This was a hospital-based cross sectional descriptive study and conducted at Yangon Children Hospital in 2014. A total number 474 epilepsy patients from which 47 refractory epilepsy patients were included. They were evaluated for general characteristics, seizure details, thorough history taking, physical examinations and investigations under supervision of pediatric neurologists. Refractory epilepsy is defined as uncontrolled seizures despite adequate therapy with 2 or more antiepileptic drugs for more than 18mths. The proportion of refractory epilepsy patients was about 10%. Onset of age was mostly less than one year. Multiple seizure patterns occurred in more than half of the patients and generalized seizure type was seen in about 70%. According to etiological classification, >90 % were found to be symptomatic. Not clear, whether these statements represent the whole study population or refractory epilepsy cases, abnormal neurological examination, microcephaly and developmental delay were found in those patients. Abnormal EEG was in 83% and abnormal CT results were in about 20%. Many factors such as early onset of seizure, multiple initial seizure frequency, symptomatic epilepsy, abnormal neurological examination, and the first EEG abnormalities were significant. Along with early prediction, other alternative options in choice of medication may be designed to provide better seizure control and good quality of life. It was anticipated that this study would contribute to improve the management of refractory epilepsy in children.