First Application of Ketogenic Diet on a Child With Intractable Epilepsy in Ghana

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Epilepsy prevalence is higher in sub-Saharan Africa, with limited effective treatments for intractable cases.
• Epilepsy surgery is often inaccessible due to high costs and specialized skill requirements.
• Intractable epilepsy significantly impacts child development, necessitating accessible therapeutic options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ketogenic diet therapy as a low-cost, accessible treatment for intractable epilepsy in children.
• To document the successful application of ketogenic diet in a pediatric case in Ghana, West Africa.

Main Methods:

• A 10-month-old female infant with intractable epilepsy (unknown etiology) was treated.
• The patient had failed treatment with over three antiepileptic drugs.
• Ketogenic diet therapy was initiated due to its low cost and simple procedure.

Main Results:

• Complete seizure control was achieved within two weeks of initiating ketogenic diet therapy.
• Significant improvement in the patient's mental condition was observed post-therapy.
• The case demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of ketogenic diet in this context.

Conclusions:

• Ketogenic diet therapy is a viable and effective treatment for intractable epilepsy in children in resource-limited settings.
• This case represents the first report of ketogenic diet application for intractable epilepsy in West Africa.
• Further development and implementation of ketogenic diet therapy in Africa are warranted.