Epilepsy: case report and analysis of clinical management problems.

Epilepsy is a major cause of morbidity and accounted for up to 40% of psychiatric outpatient attendances in the experience of the author in Transkei, South Africa. In many cases clinical diagnosis and management were easy. In this paper, the author analyses the clinical management problems presented by seven patients between January 1986 and May 1989. A detailed case report is presented to illustrate difficulties in management. It is suggested that ethosuximide might be effective in the control of probable partial seizure disorders. Underlying electrophysiological considerations are discussed. It is noted, however, that it may not be easy to differentiate between partial or generalised seizure disorders on clinical grounds.