Childhood Neurological Disabilities In Lagos: Clinical And Socio-demographic Factors
V C Ezeaka, F E A Lesi, E U Onifade, A O Grange

SUMMARY

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the spectrum of neurological disabilities, probable aetiological factors and sociodemographic factors of children attending a paediatric neurology clinic in Lagos metropolis.

Design: This prospective descriptive study assessed consecutive children referred to the Paediatric Neurology clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos from Nov 2001- April 2002.

Results: There were 146 children of whom 89 (61%) were males (X2=2.037; p=0.565). In 65 children (44.5%), the primary diagnosis was epilepsy while 48 (32.9%) had cerebral palsy. Spastic quadriplegia constituted 32.3% of the cerebral palsy cases. Severe birth asphyxia was the major probable aetiological factor in 30.1%, followed by neonatal jaundice with kernicterus (14.4%) and meningitis (11.6%). Thirty seven percent of the subjects were firstborn and a large percentage (51.4%) were from the low socio-economic classes IV and V.

Conclusion: The study reconfirms the role of preventable factors in the aetiology of neurological disabilities, and underscores the need for early recognition of high-risk pregnancies in addition to appropriate obstetric and perinatal care. The necessity of comprehensive evaluation and proper rehabilitation of these children is further discussed. Niger Med. J, Vol 45, No. 1, January - March 2004: 1 - 4

Key Words: Disabilities, neurological, sociodemographic