Mathew Thomas, K John Saji, Kamath Vikram, Kumar R Shiva, Jadav Rakesh, Swamy Sreekanta, Adoor Gurucharan, Shaji Asha, Nadig Raghunandan, Badachi Sagar, D Souza Delon, Therambil Manjusha, Sarma G R K, J Parry Gareth
Department of Neurology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapura Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034, India.
Department of Neurology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapura Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560034, India.
Epilepsy Res. 2021 Jul;173:106626. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106626. Epub 2021 Mar 26.
Essential oils (EOs) like eucalyptus and camphor have pro-convulsant properties. These EOs are present in many over- the- counter balms and oils. The effect of exposure to these EOs and occurrence of seizure is not systematically studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between essential oils and the first episode of seizure and breakthrough seizures in known epileptic patients.
This was a multi-center prospective study, conducted in four hospitals over four years. Every person presenting with the first episode of seizure or breakthrough seizure was asked about exposure to EOs, mode of exposure, time to onset of a seizure in relationship to exposure, duration of seizure, type of seizure, and antiepileptic drug therapy.
During the four-year period there were 55 patients with essential oil-related seizure (EORS). 22(40 %) had essential oil-induced seizures (EOIS) and 33(60 %) had essential oil-provoked seizures (EOPS). The female: male ratio was 1:1.1, the age of the patients ranged from 8 months to 77 years. In the EOIS group, 95 % had generalized tonic-clonic seizures and 5% had focal impaired awareness seizures. In the EOPS group, 42.4 % had focal impaired awareness seizures, 27.3 % generalized tonic-clonic seizures, 15 % focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, and 15 % focal aware motor seizures. EOs implicated were preparations containing eucalyptus and camphor.
Exposure to essential oils of eucalyptus and camphor is an under-recognized cause of the first and breakthrough seizure. Identifying the true causative factor will prevent unnecessary antiepileptic drug therapy and future recurrence.
桉叶油和樟脑等精油具有促惊厥特性。这些精油存在于许多非处方香脂和油类中。接触这些精油与癫痫发作之间的关系尚未得到系统研究。本研究的目的是评估精油与已知癫痫患者首次发作及突破性发作之间的关系。
这是一项多中心前瞻性研究，在四家医院进行了四年。每一位出现首次发作或突破性发作的患者都被询问了接触精油的情况、接触方式、与接触相关的癫痫发作起始时间、发作持续时间、发作类型以及抗癫痫药物治疗情况。
在四年期间，有55例与精油相关的癫痫发作（EORS）患者。22例（40%）为精油诱发的癫痫发作（EOIS），33例（60%）为精油激发的癫痫发作（EOPS）。男女比例为1:1.1，患者年龄范围为8个月至77岁。在EOIS组中，95%为全身强直阵挛性发作，5%为局灶性意识障碍性发作。在EOPS组中，42.4%为局灶性意识障碍性发作，27.3%为全身强直阵挛性发作，15%为局灶性至双侧强直阵挛性发作，15%为局灶性意识性运动发作。涉及的精油为含有桉叶油和樟脑的制剂。
接触桉叶油和樟脑精油是首次发作和突破性发作的一个未被充分认识的原因。识别真正的致病因素将避免不必要的抗癫痫药物治疗和未来的复发。
