Efficacy Of Phentoin Versus Levetiracetam In Children Presenting With Status Epilepticus At Tertiary Care Hospital Quetta

Objectives: To assess and evaluate how well Phenytoin performs in treating status epilepticus as compared to Levetiracetam, in children at a tertiary care hospital in Quetta. Study design:A Randomized Controlled Trial(RCT) Place and Duration of Study. From May 2024 to October 2024 Paediatrics Department Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta. Methodology: This study was a  randomised controlled trial of 120 children who presented with status epilepticus. The participants were randomized into two groups where one group received Phenytoin (20mg/kg) and the other Levetiracetam (40mg/kg) intravenously. Absence of seizure activity within 30 minutes of administration of drugs was the main outcome measure. Descriptive statistics and t- test for independent samples were used in this study and the cut off point for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 120 children, 60 children received Phenytoin while 60 children received Levetiracetam. Anti- seizure at the end of the study was recorded in 52 (86.6%) of the children in the Levetiracetam group and 46 (76.6%) children in the Phenytoin group. The time to seizure control was significantly earlier in Levetiracetam group (11.2± 3.8 minutes) compared to that in Phenytoin group (16.3 ± 4.5 minutes) (p= 0.02). Hypersensitivity reaction was less with Levetiracetam (8%) than with Phenytoin (15%). Conclusions: Levetiracetam was discovered to provide better seizure control and have a quicker onset of action in children with status epilepticus, also the associated side effects of levetiracetam are less when compared to Phenytoin. From this, it indicates that Levetiracetam may be better offer than old one since it has a more positive effect. Keywords: Stas epilepsia, Phenytoinum, Levetiracetam, Pediatric.