Building: Bourbon Cataratas Convention Centre, Foz do Iguaçu
Room: Iguazu I
Date: 2014-05-06 02:00 PM – 02:15 PM
Last modified: 2014-02-09
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Seventy percent of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a co-morbid disorder 2 of which epilepsy is one of the most common3. In children with an ASD intellectual disability1; female gender1 and age > 10 years4 are additional risk factors for epilepsy. In resource poor settings such as South Africa little is known about the prevalence of epilepsy or its particular phenotype in children with ASDs.
METHODS:
A retrospective folder review of children diagnosed with an ASD attending a tertiary neurodevelopmental clinic in South Africa over a five year period (2009-2013). The children were identified using the computerised hospital diagnostic coding system and cross-referenced against clinical databases. Folders of relevant patients were then individually reviewed and relevant data collected. Local ethics committee approval was obtained.
RESULTS:
Seven hundred and thirty-three children (<13 years) with an ASD were seen over this time period. The prevalence of epilepsy in this cohort will be described.
CONCLUSION:
Both autism and epilepsy are chronic disorders with significant impact on the lives of the children and their families. Identifying children with both these disorders may facilitate improved health care delivery and collaboration between specialist teams. This will be the first South African review of the profile of epilepsy in ASDs.
Keywords
References
(1) Amiet C, et al. Epilepsy in autism is associated with intellectual disability and gender: evidence from a meta-analysis. Biol Psychiatry 2008 Oct 1;64(7):577-582.
(2) Mannion A, et al. An investigationof comorbid psychological disorders, sleep problems, gastrointsetinal symptoms and epilepsy in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2013;7:35-42.
(3)Peacock G,et al. Autism spectrum disorders and health care expenditures: the effects of co-occurring conditions. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2012 Jan;33(1):2-8.
(4) Tuchman R, et al. Epilepsy in autism. The Lancet Neurology 2002;1:352-358.