Managing childhood epilepsy in a resource-limited setting: A pragmatic approach.

Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder. Its burden constitutes a major public health problem in resource-limited countries like Sudan. When it affects children, the challenges surrounding its diagnosis and management are enormous resulting in large numbers of patients missing out on adequate treatments. Epilepsy has the potential of not only adversely affecting the physical health of children but of also impacting negatively on their emotional, cognitive and social well-being. A pragmatic approach based on sound clinical skills of how to accurately diagnose epilepsy, as a priority, coupled with the choice of a cost-effective, wide spectrum and efficient anti-epileptic drug, is recommended.