Assessment of quality of life in parents of epileptic children and its associated factors

Background: Aim of the study was to assess quality of life (QOL) of parents of epileptic child and its association with various factors like demographic, clinical, therapeutic and behavioral factors.Methods: Consenting parents of 160 epileptic children were enrolled after finishing child’s visit to the pediatrician. Parents were enquired on baseline demographic variables like age, gender, socio-economic status, parental education; clinical details like type of epilepsy, duration of seizure, seizure frequency and co-morbidity and therapeutic factors like treatment of epilepsy and adverse drug reactions. QOL was evaluated using QOLCE questionnaire and Childhood Illness-related Parenting Stress Inventory and analysed.Results: Out of 160 parents, 85% belong to 30-40 years of age and 62.5% were male. Deteriorated quality of life was reported by parents as mean score 63.46±7.69. QOL was significantly poor (p<0.05) in parents of younger child (<6 yrs), education status (upto primary school only), employment status of parent (unemployed) and lower socioeconomic status. Assessment of disease related parameters revealed that type of seizure, seizure frequency, duration and co-morbidity were factors significantly affecting quality of life of parents with lower QOL scores(p<0.05). QOL of parents of child with epilepsy undergoing polytherapy with multiple AEDs treatment, particle seizure control and having adverse drug reaction were associated with poor scores of health and well being (p<0.05). It was found that parents of epileptic child had deteriorated QOL score with respect to behaviour patterns irrespective to conditions of epilepsy due to constant stress and anxiety and poor state of mind.Conclusions: QOL of parents was compromised in Indian children with epilepsy. Demographic factors like age of child, parental education, socio-economic status and clinical factors like type of seizure, frequency & duration of seizure and co-morbid conditions significantly affect the QOL of parents. Significantly poor QOL scores was also due to therapeutic factors like treatment with polytherapy and adverse drug reactions with poor behavioral patterns which was observed in parents that should be taken care and should not be overlooked.

ASSESSMENT OF SERUM ZINC LEVEL IN CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY TREATED WITH LONG-TERM ANTI EPILEPTIC DRUG (AED

Almost 85% of epilepsy patients which is a common neurolotical disease lives in developing world. Mostly the disease start in childhoold in more than half o the cases. Long term use of antiepileptic drugs may alter serum zinc level. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum zinc level in childhood epilepsy treated with long-term Anti Epileptic Drug (AED). This cross-sectional study was carried out in the outdoor and indoor patient department of Pediatric neurology, BSMMU during the period from March 2013 to August 2013. Sample size was one hundred, among these fifty were case e.g. epileptic child who had received anti epileptic drugs (Carbamazepine and/or Valproic acid) for more than three months and fifty werecontrol e.g. newly diagnosed epileptic child, who have not yet received antiepileptic drugs. In this study, among100 epileptic child, mean serum zinc level in case group was 0.36(±0.20)(µg/ml)and incontrol group was 0.52(±0.26) (µg/ml),which was statistically significant (p<0.05). The use of one drug or multiple drugs in the treatment of epileptic patients has made the significant low serum zinc level.

The Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (AED) on Serum Copper Level in Children with Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder in which brain activity becomes irregular, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Serum copper level may change due to long term use of antiepileptic drugs. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum copper level in childhood epilepsy treated with long-term Anti-Epileptic Drug (AED). Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Paediatric Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during March to August’ 2013. Sample size was one hundred, among these fifty were case (epileptic child who had received anti-epileptic drugs (Carbamazepine and/or Valproic acid) for more than three months) and rest fifty were control (newly diagnosed epileptic child, who yet not received antiepileptic drug). Result: The mean copper level was 1.11±0.32 µg/ml in case group and 0.96±0.20 µg/ml in control group, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of one drug or multiple drugs in the treatment of epileptic patients may play significant role in increasing copper serum level.