Epidemiological characteristics of epilepsy in a tertiary care hospital
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases and is a serious neurological disorder that is associated with social stigma. Epidemiology continues to be an important research tool in the study of epilepsy and related disorders, providing a better understanding of the frequency, causes, and natural history of the disorder. to investigate the differences in the demographic and social charac-teristics of epileptic patients in sample of Egyptian patients in tertiary care hospital and compare gender differences in various types of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes and treatment strategies. This study was a cross section observational study. It was conducted in Epilepsy clinic in Kafr El-Sheikh general hospital for one year from November 2021 till November 2022. The study was approved by the ethical committee of medical research. This study examined various clinical and demographic aspects of epilepsy patients, revealing that most were aged 20–40 years (56.7%), with a mean age of 33.23 ± 11.83 years. The majority had no family history of epilepsy (79.8%) or febrile convulsions (88%) and were predominantly right-handed (87.1%). Migraine was the most common comorbidity (7.3%), and stress was the leading seizure trigger (30.9%). Non-compliance (38.6%) was the most frequent cause of uncontrolled seizures. Idiopathic epilepsy accounted for 81.1% of cases, with structural and functional causes less common. EEG findings were abnormal in 60%, with generalized activity being most prevalent. MRI results were normal in 57.1%, while 18.45% showed lesions like mesial sclerosis and encephalomalacia. Topiramate caused weight loss (22.2%), while carbamazepine caused somnolence (12.7%). The study underscores the need for increased access to diagnostic tools like EEG and MRI, better patient education, and careful AED selection to minimize side effects and improve treatment adherence. This cross-sectional observational study investigated the demographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of epilepsy patients in the Epilepsy Clinic at Kafr El-Sheikh General Hospital.