The clinical utility of electroencephalographic studies in children and adolescents at Tara Hospital
| dc.contributor.author | Mahuma, Othelia Omphemetse | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-17T20:28:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-17T20:28:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.description | A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Psychiatry, 2021 | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) can be useful in the diagnosis of epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. There is a need to evaluate whether it is appropriately utilised, particularly among children and adolescents. Aim: To assess the clinical utility of EEG studies in children and adolescents at Tara Hospital. Objectives: To describe the reasons for referral for EEG studies, to determine the prevalence of abnormal EEGs and to examine their impact on the diagnosis and management of patients. Methods: A retrospective record review of all patients under age 18 referred for EEGs over a five-year period was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the clinical profile and EEG findings, and inferential statistics to test associations between clinical variables and EEG findings. Results: 249 participants were enrolled; 63.4% were males,56.9% were between 5-12 years and 43% were between 13-18 years. 13.7% had an abnormal EEG, of which 70.6% were males. The proportion of abnormal EEGs was significantly higher in the 5-12 years age group compared to the 13-18 years age group (76.5% vs. 53.7%, p=0.013). The most common abnormal EEG finding was focal epileptiform activity (27%), followed by generalised epileptiform activity (24%) and focal slowing (18%). The rate of abnormal EEGs was found to be clinically significant in those with a history of seizures (p= 0.027), traumatic brain injury (p= 0.18) and comorbid medical conditions (p= 0.07). The overall demonstrable impact of the EEG in our study was 22%.Conclusion Our results confirm that EEG studies add value in the diagnosis and psychiatric management of children and adolescents | en_ZA |
| dc.description.librarian | CK | en_ZA |
| dc.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10539/32395 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.title | The clinical utility of electroencephalographic studies in children and adolescents at Tara Hospital | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |