Danaya R T, Johnson F A, Ambihaipahar U
Port Moresby General Hospital, Division of Child Health, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea.
P N G Med J. 1994 Mar;37(1):3-6.
A prospective study of 40 children with epilepsy was carried out between June 1990 and August 1991 at Port Moresby General Hospital. Half of the children had yet to start school. Significant features in their past medical histories were acute meningitis (38%), tuberculous meningitis (10%), febrile convulsions (10%) and head trauma (5%). Most cases had grand mal epilepsy (80%). The majority of the children with epilepsy (90%) were treated with a single drug, which was usually phenobarbitone. 22% had received more than one drug, but not simultaneously. Significant side-effects requiring change of treatment occurred in 10%. Disturbed behaviour was reported in 55% and 22% had a poor social outcome. 45% had complete control of fits clinically. This study showed that in Port Moresby acute meningitis is a significant cause of epilepsy in young children, the majority of whom present with grand mal epilepsy, which is usually controlled by phenobarbitone, a readily available and cheap drug and still a useful anticonvulsant in the developing world.
1990年6月至1991年8月期间，在莫尔斯比港总医院对40名癫痫患儿进行了一项前瞻性研究。一半的儿童尚未开始上学。他们过去病史中的显著特征包括急性脑膜炎（38%）、结核性脑膜炎（10%）、热性惊厥（10%）和头部外伤（5%）。大多数病例为大发作癫痫（80%）。大多数癫痫患儿（90%）接受单一药物治疗，通常是苯巴比妥。22%的患儿接受过不止一种药物治疗，但不是同时使用。10%的患儿出现需要改变治疗的显著副作用。55%的患儿有行为障碍，22%的患儿社会结局不佳。45%的患儿临床发作得到完全控制。这项研究表明，在莫尔斯比港，急性脑膜炎是幼儿癫痫的一个重要病因，其中大多数患儿表现为大发作癫痫，通常由苯巴比妥控制，苯巴比妥是一种容易获得且便宜的药物，在发展中国家仍然是一种有用的抗惊厥药。
