International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology
Open Access

Abstract

Differences of Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Clinical Profiles and Investigational Findings between Pediatric and Adult Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Patients Attended at a Referral Neurology Hospital in Bangladesh

Mohammad Enayet Hussain*

Background: Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) though more common in the pediatric age group, can also occur in adult patients. There may be a variation of socio-demographic, clinical, and investigation profiles in these two groups.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to find out the differences in socio-demographic, clinical, and investigation profiles between the two groups.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the national institute of neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 2017 to August 2020. Patients of SSPE diagnosed by Dyken’s Criteria were included in the study. As per the hospital admission protocol, patients up to the age of 14 years were admitted to the pediatric neurology department while those above 14years were admitted to the adult neurology department. Details of socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profiles and investigational findings were recorded; then comparison of these parameters among the patients admitted in the pediatric and adult neurology department was performed.

Result: A total of 34 SSPE patients were recruited of which 24 cases were from the pediatric neurology department (group A) and the rest 10 patients were from the adult neurology department (group B). Male patients outnumbered females in both groups which was 18 (75.0%) cases and 7 (70.0%) cases respectively. Most of the patients were from rural areas and low socio-economic background. History of definite Measles infection was present in 41.0% in Group A and 30.0% in group B patients. The frequency of vaccination against measles was 100.0% in Group B whereas 91.7% in Group 1 patients. Fall was the commonest presenting symptom in both groups. Visual disturbance was more common among Group B patients (p<0.05). Antimeasles antibody was positive in all cases and EEG revealed periodic bursts in all patients in both groups.

Conclusion: The profile of SSPE patients admitted in the pediatric Neurology department is not varied from those admitted in the adult neurology department except for visual disturbance which has found to be more common in the late-onset group.

Published Date: 2022-03-04; Received Date: 2022-02-03