ASSESSMENT QUALITY OF LIFE IN EGYPTIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH EPILEPSY

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological condition in developing years that can negatively
impact one's physical, social and emotional function. The aim of the study was to explore the current status of
health related quality of life (HR-QOL) in Egyptian children and adolescents with epilepsy using (WHOQOLBREF) questionnaire
. Patients and Methods: This Case control study was carried out in pediatric neurology unit and outpatient
clinic in department of pediatrics at Zagazig University Children's Hospital on 110 children. All the children
were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and assessment of QOL by WHOQOL-BREF.
Results: There was a significant decreases in all domains and total score of WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire
between studied group. There was a significant –ve correlation between age and psychological domain score,
also between number of school failure and both psychological and environmental domain. Disease duration and
treatment duration were –ve significantly correlated with all QOL domains. A significant +ve correlation was
founded between social class score and both general and environmental domain.. There was a significance
decrease in general and environmental domain score between cases with generalized and partial seizers
compared to cases with absent seizers.
Conclusion: Diminished QOL is common in children with epilepsy than other children. Patients with epilepsy
had lower mean scores of all domains of QOL, especially those with frequent fits, those with long duration, and
in patients with generalized fits.