A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHENYTOIN AND LEVETIRACETAM IN CHILDREN WITH STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN THE POPULATION UNDER STUDY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Children, Status epilepticus, Phenytoin, Levetiracetam, Efficacy
Abstract
Objective
To compare the efficacy of levetiracetam and phenytoin in the management of pediatric status epilepticus (SE).
Study design: Randomized controlled trial
Duration and place of study: this study was conducted in Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari Karachi from May 2024 to May 2025
Methodology
One hundred and forty children with SE were used in a randomized controlled trial. The computer generated random number table was used to assign the participants to two equal groups of 70 each at random. Group A was put in levetiracetam and Group B in intravenous phenytoin. In case the seizures were repeated after the first loading dose, one more 10 mg/kg portion of the same drug was used ten-minute later. The next 24 hours, all the patients were monitored with regard to seizure activity. Efficacy was the definition of total seizure control 24 hours following the first dose.
Results
Levetiracetam demonstrated superior efficacy compared to phenytoin. Effective seizure control was achieved in 32 children in the levetiracetam group and 26 in the phenytoin group, showing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.005).
Conclusion
Levetiracetam proved to be more effective than phenytoin in controlling SE in children. Further large-scale, multicenter studies are recommended to confirm these findings.
References
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Shermeen Farooq
Shermeen Farooq , General Practitioner Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant , Yas Clinic-Operated by Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center.
Bhawna Kumari
Bhawna Kumari, Senior Registrar Pediatric Medicine, Indus Medical College Tando Mohammad Khan Pakistan.
Muhammad Aslam Chandio
Muhammad Aslam Chandio, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari karachi Pakistan.
Sirichand
Sirichand, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Hamdard University of Medicine and Dentistry Karachi Pakistan.
Adnan Bashir
Adnan Bashir, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Hamdard University of Medicine and Dentistry Karachi Pakistan.
Muhammad Kashif Khaskheli
Muhammad Kashif Khaskheli, Senior Registrar Pediatric Medicine, Sindh Institute of Child Health Neonatology Sukkur (SICHN) / Children Hospital Sukkur Pakistan.