Carpay et al developed the Side Effect (SE) scale for evaluating side effects of antiepileptic therapy in children. This is completed by the child's parent. The authors are from the Juliana Children's Hospital in Den Haag (The Hague) and other children's hospitals in The Netherlands.
A side effect is defined as something probably caused by the medication and not due to another cause.
Side effects of therapy:
(1) drowsiness or sleepiness
(2) dizziness
(3) uncertainty with walking
(4) falling
(5) sickness
(6) difficulty with defecation
(7) diarrhea
(8) shaking and/or trembling
(9) speech difficulties
(10) double or blurred vision
(11) headache
(12) fatigue
(13) loss of appetite
(14) depression
(15) hyperactivity
(16) temper tantrums and/or aggressive outbursts
(17) slowness
(18) poorer school performance
(19) decreased concentration
(20) behavioral disturbances
|
Response
|
Points
|
|
no
|
1
|
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not applicable
|
1
|
|
cannot be assessed
|
1
|
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mild problem
|
2
|
|
moderately severe problem
|
3
|
|
very serious problem
|
4
|
subscore for toxic side effects =
= SUM(points for first 14 items)
subscore for chronic side effects =
= SUM(points for items 15 to 20)
Interpretation:
• minimum subscore for toxic side effects: 14
• maximum subscore for toxic side effects: 56
• minimum subscore for chronic side effects: 6
• maximum subscore for chronic side effects: 24
• The higher the score, the more serious the adverse effects.
