Eureka! Institutional Repository

Pediatric patients receiving antiepileptic treatment and having reduced levels of Vitamin 25 (OH) D are at increased risk for uncontrolled frequent and severe seizures with an additional risk of fractures. Vitamin D intake and normal levels of 25- (OH) D in the blood of patients have been associated with a 40%reduced frequency of seizures, supporting its anticonvulsant effect. Although antiepileptic treatment causes further reduction in vitamin D levels by interfering in its metabolism, however there are no formal recommendations for supplemental vitamin D in children with epilepsy. Purpose: To investigate the extent to which parents with children with epilepsy have been informed about the relationship between vitamin D and their antiepileptic treatment, as well as a rough estimate of the factors that affect 25 (OH) D levels in children. Methods: Parent volunteers of 40 children with epilepsy (20 boys and 20 girls) were recruited with the help of the social Medias by answering questions about how much informed they were about vitamin D and their children’s treatment. Google Forms software is used as a platform to create a special password-protected questionnaire and a unique study ID. Responses are routed to a "Cloud" database where they are automatically sorted into customized Excel formats, which are then analyzed with statistical selection software. Results: The information of parents with children with epilepsy for vitamin D in combination with antiepileptic treatment is incomplete (78% ignorance), increasing the risk of the effects of vitamin D deficiency. Among the children who were included in the study only 19 % had sufficient levels of vitamin D (> 30ng / ml). The increased use (70%) of sunscreens and more specifically of a highsunscreen protection indicator(SPF> 30) is an additional factor reducing the main source (80% -90%) of vitamin D production. Conclusion: It is necessary to adopt formal recommendations on the control of vitamin D levels and its supplementation to epileptic children for the prevention and treatment of seizures and the risk of fractures.