Quality of Life in children with
epilepsy
Aulakh R1
1Dr. Roosy Aulakh, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Govt.
Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr.
Roosy Aulakh, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics,
Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, India.
Email: drroosy@gmail.com
Abstract
Care of children with epilepsy (CWE) in developing resource limited
nations like India includes major emphasis on seizure control with
minimal possible side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Evaluation of
QOL of CWE and steps to improve it is unfortunately not considered as
an important issue.
Epilepsy, being a chronic condition with associated co-morbidities, is
usually associated with poor quality of life (QOL). Children with
epilepsy have to deal with various restraints in daily activities,
adventure sports in addition to effect of epilepsy and side effects of
anti-epileptic drugs on scholastic performance, thus adversely
impairing their quality of life.Even in the twenty first century,
epilepsy is considered as a social stigma!
Care of children with epilepsy (CWE) in developing resource limited
nations like India includes major emphasis on seizure control with
minimal possible side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Evaluation of
QOL of CWE and steps to improve it is unfortunately not considered as
an important issue.
In a study by Nadkarni J et al, Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy
(QOLCE) questionnaire was administered to 102 CWE aged 5-15 years. The
results from this cross-sectional study revealed that overall QOL was
affected more in older children, those living in rural areas, those
with lower socio-economic status and in mothers with lower literacy
levels. QOL was also reported to be affected by disease
characteristics, with a poorer QOL in children with higher seizure
frequency, those receiving poly therapy, having partial seizures and
longer duration of treatment [1].A similar study by Devin sky et al
also reported that older adolescents, independent of epilepsy severity,
reported worse overall Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) than did
their younger counter parts. They suggested that older adolescents are
more likely to perceive a greater negative impact on life and general
health and thus have more negative attitudes toward epilepsy [2]. Tests
of language, intelligence, achievement, and structured psychiatric
interviews were administered to 182 epilepsy youth, aged 6.3-8.1,
9.1-11.7, and 13.0-15.2 years, as well as to 102 age- and
gender-matched normal children by Caplan R et al. The results from this
study documented that older compared to the younger epilepsy groups had
more language impairment and a wider range of linguistic deficits [3].
The most significant differences in functioning of epileptic,
drug-resistant patients and those with controlled seizures were
observed in areas of cognitive processes and social activity in a study
on CWE using QOLCE questionnaire by Talarska et al [4].Even parents of
CWE have been reported to have symptoms of anxiety more commonly than
parents of healthy controls [5]. In the current issue Akpan MU et al
report their findings on HRQOL of CWE based on child
self-report and parent-proxy report questionnaires (Pediatrics Quality
of Life inventory version 4.0) administered to 60 children and their
mothers. They concluded that children with seizure disorder had mean
total score and mean score in the subscales that was significantly
lower than that of the controls and that good quality of life was
associated with good seizure control [6].
In addition to the physical and psychological effects of epilepsy, the
social stigma associated with epilepsy too affects QOL in CWE. Epilepsy
stigma has three different levels; internalized, interpersonal, and
institutional [7]. All these need to be addressed concurrently in
addition to collaborative comprehensive efforts to evaluate and upgrade
the QOL of children with epilepsy and also tackle the social stigma
associated with it.
Funding:
Nil, Conflict of
interest: None initiated.
Permission from IRB:
Yes
References
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[PubMed]
2. Devinsky O, Westbrook L, Cramer J, Glassman M et al. Risk factors
for poor health-related quality of life in adolescents with epilepsy.
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Languages in pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2009;50:2397–407.
[PubMed]
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2018;5(5):251-257.
7. Jacoby A, Austin JK. Social stigma for adults and children with
epilepsy.Epilepsia. 2007;48 Suppl 9:6-9. [PubMed]
How to cite this article?
Aulakh R. Quality of Life in children with epilepsy. Int J Pediatr Res.
2018;5(5):249-250.doi:10.17511/ijpr.2018.5.01.