Jemds.com Original Article J. Evolution Med. Dent. Sci./eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 5/ Issue 48/ June 16, 2016 Page 3057 A STUDY ON AETIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SEIZURES IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE Jayanthi Rangarajan 1 , Thilagavathi Rajendran 2 , Balamurugan Shanmugam 3 , Monica Karunhakaran 4 , Aadhithyaraman Vaithiya Santharaman 5 , Sindhiya Jayachandran 6 , Flaicy Varghese 7 1 Professor and HOD, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 3 Post Graduate, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 4 Post Graduate, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 5 Under Graduate, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 6 Post Graduate, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. 7 Post Graduate, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND This study was taken up to study the distribution of type of seizures and to evaluate the aetiological profile among patients presenting with seizures in a tertiary care centre METHODS This was an observational prospective study done from April 2014 - March 2015 in Government Stanley Hospital. The study included 150 patients above 12 years of age presenting with acute symptomatic seizures. Detailed history to ascertain the type of seizure and clinical examination was done. Routine investigations, EEG and imaging of the brain was done for all patients. Data recorded and analysed. RESULTS Among 150 patients included in the study generalised seizures accounted for the majority of seizures of around 92% followed by focal seizures 6% and others 2%. Among generalised, generalised tonic clonic seizure was the most common subtype. Alcohol related seizures was the most common cause followed by CNS infection. CONCLUSIONS Our study concluded that generalised seizure is the predominant type of seizure and alcohol related seizures was the most common cause among patients presenting in Govt. Stanley Medical Hospital. KEYWORDS Seizures, Generalized, Focal, Aetiology. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Rangarajan J, Rajendran T, Shanmugam B, et al. A study on aetiological profile of seizures in a tertiary care centre. J. Evolution Med. Dent. Sci. 2016;5(48):3057-3061, DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2016/712 INTRODUCTION A seizure is a paroxysmal event due to abnormal, excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Depending on the distribution of discharges, this abnormal brain activity can have various manifestations ranging from dramatic convulsive activity to experiential phenomena not readily discernible by an observer. [1] Determining the type of seizure that has occurred is essential for focusing the diagnostic approach on particular aetiologies, selecting the appropriate therapy and providing potentially vital information regarding prognosis. Hence, our study focused on determining the distribution of type of seizures among study population. OBJECTIVE To study the distribution of type of seizures and to evaluate the aetiological profile among patients presenting with seizures in a tertiary care centre. Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 08-04-2016, Peer Review 24-05-2016, Acceptance 31-05-2016, Published 15-06-2016. Corresponding Author: Dr. Jayanthi Rangarajan, Professor and HOD, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanley Government Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. E-mail: rjayanthi@doctor.com DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2016/712 METHODOLOGY Ethical Committee approval and informed consent was obtained from study subjects. This was an observational prospective study done from April 2014 - March 2015 in Government Stanley Hospital. The study included 150 patients above 12 years of age presenting with acute symptomatic seizures. Our study included both new onset and also known epileptics presenting with seizures. Detailed history to confirm occurrence of seizures and to ascertain the type of seizure was obtained. The type of seizure was assigned based on standard definitions and criteria. Complete general and neurological examination was done. Apart from routine investigations, EEG and imaging of the brain was done for all patients. Data recorded and analysed with the help of Epi Info Software and Microsoft Excel. Criteria for Alcoholic Presence of 2 out of 11 symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria. RESULTS Based on the statistical analysis done at the end of the data collection, the following results were obtained.  79% of cases were of new onset, 21% were recurrent.  Generalised seizures were the most common type of seizure accounting for 92%, followed by focal in 6% and