Epidemiology of Epilepsy among Pediatric Patients in Tabuk City

Epilepsy is a common disease with serious health consequences. Knowledge regarding the clinical pattern of epilepsy is important for its management and prevention. The study aims to investigate the epidemiology of epilepsy among the children following King Salman Armed Forced Hospital in Tabuk city and to determine the frequency of epilepsy according to age, gender, consanguinity, and comorbidities. This is a retrospective observational study conducted among children, in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Data from the patient’s medical record was collected following its policy on data confidentiality, security, and safety. The study included 200 participants, 53.5% of them were males and 46.5% were females. 31% reported consanguinity between parents. The age of the first epileptic seizure was less than 1 year in 40.5% of patients, 2 years in 16.5%, 5 years old in 7% of patients, and 7 years old in 6.5% of patients. Epilepsy type was generalized in 81%, focal in 5.5%, and combined in 6%. The etiology of epilepsy was idiopathic in 52.5%, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in 14.5%, mental insufficiency in 10%, GDD in 7.5%, ADHD in 3%, and ASD in 3%. Associated co-morbidities were reported as 4.5% infection, 5.5% genetic disorder, 26% structural disabilities, 4.5% metabolic disorder, 4% cerebral palsy, and 4% developmental delay. In conclusion, epilepsy in Tabuk City affected the young age group and was generalized in the majority, more than half were idiopathic. There is a need for further studies to examine the risk factors in greater detail.