Author(s)

Lehila Bagnan Tossa¹, Gilles Bognon², Gilles Bognon², Annatou Yakoubou³, Francis Lalya¹, Marcos Doussoh³

¹University Clinic of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics of the National Hospital and University Center Hubert K. MAGA of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.
²Pediatric of the University and Departemental Hospital Center of Ouémè-Plateau, Porto-Novo, Benin.
³Pediatric Ward of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Center of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.

Introduction: The experience of convulsions is full of myths in our socio-cultural context. Objectives: To determine the frequency of seizures, to identify community practices in the care of seizures and the death risk factors. Methods: We conducted a prospective, descriptive and analytical study between April and August 2015 in the pediatric ward of the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Center (CHUMEL) of Cotonou. We included children aged from 1 month to 15 years old hospitalized for either febrile or non-febrile convulsions happened at home. Results: A total of 102 cases of convulsion were included, 11.3% of hospitalizations. These were mostly children under 5 years, 87/102 (85.3%). Traditional resuscitation procedures were performed on 81 children (79.4%). They consisted of the forced introduction of objects in the mouth in 46 cases (46.1%), the oral administration of various products in 39 cases (38.2%), the ocular instillation of products in 10 cases (9.8%). Nineteen bodily injuries were found. The lethality was 15.8%. The risk factors for death identified were the use of traditional healers and the delay in consultation. Conclusion: The high frequency of seizures, the severity of seizures, the harmful traditional practices performed, and the delay to consultation require to strengthen the education of the population.

Seizures, Traditional Resuscitation, Child, Benin

Tossa, L. , Bognon, G. , Bognon, G. , Yakoubou, A. , Lalya, F. and Doussoh, M. (2019) Seizures in Children in the Lagoon Mother and Child University Hospital Center (CHUMEL) of Cotonou: Community Practices and Risk Factors for Death in Benin. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 9, 273-280. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2019.94025.