Iloeje S O, Paed F M
J Trop Pediatr. 1989 Aug;35(4):163-8. doi: 10.1093/tropej/35.4.163.
Of 580 epileptic children, 353 males and 227 females, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, from 1985 to 1987, 18 per cent were mentally retarded, a much higher prevalence rate than in the general population. Nine different seizure types were seen, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) leading in frequency. The highest incidence of mental retardation occurred among the children with infantile spasms (51 per cent). For all the seizure types, there was a long delay in seeking medical attention (mean interval, 1.7 years). The mean interval for epileptics with mental retardation was even higher (2.77 years). Factors found to increase the chances of an epileptic child having mental retardation include episodes of status epilepticus, early age at onset of seizures, and long delay before presentation to hospital for treatment. There is need for increased efforts aimed at the elimination of these factors and also for a well organized programme to educate the population about the nature of epilepsy, and the importance of compliance with the treatment schedule.
1985年至1987年期间，在尼日利亚大学教学医院埃努古儿科神经科门诊就诊的580名癫痫患儿中，有353名男性和227名女性，其中18%智力发育迟缓，这一患病率远高于普通人群。观察到9种不同的癫痫发作类型，其中全身性强直阵挛发作（大发作）最为常见。智力发育迟缓发生率最高的是婴儿痉挛症患儿（51%）。所有癫痫发作类型的患儿就医都有很长的延迟（平均间隔1.7年）。智力发育迟缓的癫痫患儿平均间隔甚至更长（2.77年）。发现增加癫痫患儿智力发育迟缓几率的因素包括癫痫持续状态发作、癫痫发作起病年龄小以及就医治疗前延迟时间长。需要加大力度消除这些因素，还需要制定一个组织完善的项目，向公众宣传癫痫的性质以及遵守治疗方案的重要性。
