Pattern and predisposing factors of neurological disorders in a neurology outpatient clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Neurologic disorders are a major cause of morbidity and disability in childhood. With this in mind, understanding the present trends of neurologic disorders in any locality would help in the designing and implementation of preventive health strategies. Objectives; To determine the pattern and predisposing factors of neurologic disorders presenting at the Paediatric neurology outpatient department of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a prospective study carried out in the Paediatric neurology clinic of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017.
Results: A total of 21,600 patients were seen in the Paediatric outpatient department in the period under review out of which 303 (1.4%) were children with neurologic disorders, 7 patients were excluded from the analysis. Their mean age was 3.5± 3.7 yrs with a M: F ratio of 1.5:1. Antenatal care was done in a hospital by 244 (82.4%) of the mothers while 78(26.4%) children were delivered by Traditional birth attendants (TBA) or unqualified attendants and 196(66.2%) were born at term via spontaneous vaginal delivery 229(77.4%). Single neurologic disorder was seen in 171(57.8%) children. The common neurologic disorders were Seizure disorders 152(51.4%), cerebral palsy 141(47.6%) and microcephaly 87(29.4). The identifiable predisposing factors were perinatal asphyxia 91(30.7%), meningitis 80(27%) and neonatal jaundice 37(13%). Conclusion. Seizure disorders and cerebral palsy are the commonest neurologic disorders in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The predisposing factors are mostly preventable.
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References
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