Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus among Paediatric Patients with Seizures Attending Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, North West Nigeria

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus causes a congenital infection, which poses a great public Health challenge such as hearing loss, seizure and mental disorder among children.

Methodology: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to screen serum samples (90) collected from Patients presented with Seizure between the ages 0-13 years for Cytomegalovirus IgG specific antibodies.

Results: The presence of CMV IgG specific antibody among Seizure patients obtained from this study recorded a prevalence of 68(75.5%). The age groups 9-13 years presented highest CMV (IgG) specific antibodies response 36(40.0%), followed by ages 5-8 years 22(24.4%) and least for ages 0-4 years 10 (11.1%), P>0.005. The CMV (IgG) specific antibodies response with respect to gender presented male with highest prevalence 50 (55.5%) than their female 18 (20.0%) counterparts P<0.005.

Conclusion: Therefore CMV is highly prevalent within the study area and the need for necessary facilities to be available in screening pregnant women of the virus in order to prevent the spread vertically to their fetuses thereby increases the risk of Seizure.