Current Pediatric Research

Background: A seizure refers to a sudden change in neurological function caused by excessive, synchronized neuronal discharges in the brain. Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Various factors can trigger seizures, such as electrolyte imbalances, toxic effects, withdrawal syndromes, medication irregularities, infections, fever, and sleep deprivation. Common types of seizures in children include absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, febrile seizures, and infantile spasms. Ensuring the appropriate and rational utilization of Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) is of utmost importance in the management of epilepsy.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the prescribing patterns of anti-epileptic medications for pediatric patients experiencing seizures, while also evaluating the effectiveness, compliance, and safety profile of these AEDs. Additionally, the study aims to determine the prevalent seizure types observed in the pediatric population.

Methods: The prospective study was carried out at Aster CMI hospital, Bengaluru, involving a total of 113 patients from the Neuro OPD, over a span of 6 months.

Results: Our findings revealed a higher prevalence of seizures among male patients (54.87%) compared to female patients (45.13%). Seizure occurrences were highest among children aged 0-5 years and lowest among those aged 15-18 years. The most observed type of epilepsy was idiopathic epilepsy, followed by febrile seizures. Levetiracetam emerged as the most frequently prescribed medication, with sodium valproate ranking second. Monotherapy was the predominant treatment strategy. Notably, only a single patient encountered an Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) when administered levetiracetam.

Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in evaluating prescribing patterns, which aids in comparing ongoing treatments with standard guidelines and promoting rational drug use while minimizing adverse drug reactions. Our study demonstrated that the prescribed medications were effective (97.35%) and safe (99.12%), with a patient compliance rate of 99.12%.

Author(s): Harisshri Kumar Vasani, M Lakshmi Gayathri, Sharon Mariam Philip, Deepika Guntu, Kshiteej Dahal

Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this