Haruna M., 19

He is the third born in a family of five and lives with his parents in Karamin Tanda, Gashu’a. His father is a Qur’anic school teacher earning ₦10,000 monthly, while his mother is a housewife. The family lives in a mud house and struggles financially. Haruna enjoys eating and playing with his peers. The child was reportedly healthy until about four hours before he was taken to the hospital, when he suddenly developed repeated seizures. The seizures were described as tonic-clonic episodes involving body jerking, rolling of the eyes, and drooling of saliva, lasting less than two minutes. After the seizures, he experienced confusion and headache. The episodes were sometimes associated with unusual stomach sensations and hallucinations, and were commonly triggered by lack of sleep and missed medication. At the time of examination in the hospital, the patient was conscious and fully oriented. Apart from tongue bruising and swelling caused during the seizure episodes, his neurological examination. He was evaluated and diagnosed with recurrent Seizures.

The patient was admitted and evaluated following recurrent tonic-clonic seizure episodes. Clinical assessment and neurological examination were carried out, revealing tongue bruising and swelling secondary to seizure activity, while other neurological findings remained normal. The patient was monitored, counseled on adherence to medications, and advised to avoid seizure triggers such as sleep deprivation and missed drugs. Following treatment and observation, the patient became conscious, oriented, and clinically stable with no focal neurological deficits noted at the time of assessment.

The patient is presenting with recurrent tonic-clonic seizure episodes suggestive of a seizure epilepsy. The episodes are likely precipitated by sleep deprivation and poor compliance with medication. It is important because if Left unmanaged, severe complications include status epilepticus (prolonged, life-threatening seizures), irreversible hypoxic brain injury, severe physical trauma from falls, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The prognosis is considered fair to good with proper medical management, regular follow-up, adequate sleep, and strict compliance with medications. Failure to adhere to treatment or continued seizure triggers may result in recurrent episodes and possible complications.