Integrated Management of Epilepsy among Basic School Children in Menoufiya Governorate

[摘要] Background: Despite the advance in pharmacological treatment; management of childhood epilepsy is often not optimal and adversely affecting the quality of life of both epileptic children and their caregivers. Objective: To study the prevalence of epilepsy among school children (6-15y) in Manshaat Sultan village, Egypt, and to clarify the impact of the suggested integrated program of epilepsy management on patients and caregivers. Methods: This study included 5000 school children at age of (6-15 y), all of them subjected to questionnaire that included different clinical pictures of epilepsy. Cases diagnosed to be epileptic, were submitted to detailed neurological history and full clinical examination, EEG, CT brain. Suggested integrated program of epilepsy management was performed on patients, caregivers, and school teachers. Results were reassessed after 6 months to evaluate the difference between pre and post program application. Results:  Prevalence rate of epilepsy reported was 4.2 per 1000 population with male to female ratio 1.8:1, most of them (70%) were not controlled. Most of epileptic children showed poor scholastic achievement and increased number of school days loss. It was found that these results were improved after application of the integrated educational program. Also, there was significant improvement of knowledge and practice of epileptic children and their caregivers which encourage children to take medication and cope with their disease and practice their hobbies without fear of occurrence of fits. Conclusion: Application of integrated educational program of epilepsy among basic school children result in significant improvement in management. (Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg. 2010; 47(1): 49-58)

[学科分类] 精神健康和精神病学