Epidemiology of infantile spasm in Qatar

Abstract EN

In a 3-year retrospective study in Qatar (1992-1994) eleven patients, eight boys and three girls were diagnosed as having infantile spasm.

The incidence was 0.36/1000 live births.

Two patients had idiopathic infantile spasm and nine patients (82%) were symptomatic.

A positive family history of epilepsy was found in 27% of the patients and Parental consanguinity was found in 45% of the patients.

Two patients had cerebral malformation and all the patients had one or more risk factors during pregnancy and delivery- The outcome for the idiopathic group -1 out of the two was normal, and all the patients from the symptomatic group were found to be abnormal at the end of the follow-up.

Seizures were controlled in six of the patients, partially controlled in four, and only one continued to have seizures in spite of treatment