Prevalence and Correlation between Neurological Sign and Diagnostic Results of Head Computed Tomography Scan in Patients with Seizures

Abstract

              The objective of this cross–sectional analytical study was to study the prevalence and correlation between neurological sign and the diagnostic results of head computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with seizures. Participants were 305 patients with seizures who received treatment at Kumphawapi hospital between July 1st, 2018 and October 31st, 2019. Data were collected by searching patient information from medical records and head CT scans. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage. The inferential statistics either the Chi–square test or Fisher’s exact test was applied. The 95% confidence interval and statistical significance level of 0.05 were designated.

            The results showed that 152 patients with seizures had normal head CT scans (49.84%) and 153 patients had abnormal head CT scans (50.16%). Of these, most of them were encephalomalacia (15.74%), followed by haemorrhage (9.51%) and infarction (5.57%). The focal seizure patterns, Glasgow coma score (GCS) < 13 and focal weakness were statistically significant associated with abnormal head CT scans (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Of eighty patients with alcohol–related seizures, 52 patients (71.25%) had normal head CT scans and 23 patients (28.75%) had abnormal head CT scans. Of these, most of them were encephalomalacia (13.75%), followed by haemorrhage (8.75%), and infarction (1.25%). The focal seizure patterns, GCS < 13 and focal weakness were statistically significant associated with abnormal head CT scans (p = 0.015, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively).

           Keywords: Seizures, Alcohol, Head computed tomography scan, Neurological sign