Paediatric neurologic emergencies at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu

Abstract

Four hundred and sixty-seven children, aged from birth to 16 years (mean age:35.9 months), presented with emergency neurological problems to the Children's Emergency Unit (CHER) of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu over a 12-month period. This accounted for 11.1% of all the cases seen in the Unit during that period. There was a male:female ratio of 1.55:1. A significantly higher number of cases presented during the rainy season (May to October) than during the other months of the year. Febrile convulsion was the most common problem, with 132 cases (28.3%), followed by meningitis (18.2%) and afebrile seizures (15.8%). One hundred and ninety-two patients (37.7%) were discharged home, while 36 (7.7%) died. The findings from the study are discussed and compared with data from other centres. Recommendations that may help to reduce mortality from neurologic emergencies in children, are made.