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The authors carried out a door-to-door survey to determine the prevalence of epilepsy among 55,000 people in China. The lifetime prevalence was 7.0/1000, and 41% of all persons had never received appropriate treatment. The prevalence of active epilepsy was 4.6/1000, and 63% of people with active epilepsy had not received antiepileptic treatment in the week before the survey. Figures for the prevalence and the treatment gap were significantly higher than previous estimates.

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Summary:Purpose: Information about existing resources available within the countries to tackle the huge medical, social, and economic burden caused by epilepsy is lacking. To fill this information gap, a survey of country resources available for epilepsy care was conducted within the framework of the ILAE/IBE/WHO Global Campaign Against Epilepsy.Methods: The study represents a major collaborative effort involving the World Health Organization (WHO), the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE).Results: Data were collected from 160 countries representing 97.5% of the world population. The information included availability, role, and involvement of professional and patient associations for epilepsy, epilepsy treatment and services including

Summary: Purpose:The worldwide prevalence of epilepsy is variable, estimated at 10//1,000 people, and access to treatment is also variable. Many people go untreated, particularly in resourcepoor countries.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of epilepsy and the proportion of people not receiving adequate treatment in different socioeconomic classes in Brazil, a resource-poor country.Methods: A door-to-door survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and treatment gap of epilepsy in three areas of two towns in Southeast Brazil with a total population of 96,300 people. A validated screening questionnaire for epilepsy (sensitivity 95.8%, specificity 97.8%) was used. A neurologist further ascertained positive cases. A validated instrument for socioeconomic classification was used.Results: Lifetime prevalence was 9.2/1,000 people [95% CI 8.4-10.0] and the prevalence of active epilepsy was 5.4/1,000 people. This was higher in the more deprived social classes (7.5/1,000 compared with 1.6/1,000 in the less deprived). Prevalence was also higher in elderly people (8.5/1,000). Thirty-eight percent of patients with active epilepsy had inadequate treatment (19% on no medication); the figures were similar in the different socioeconomic groups.Conclusion: The prevalence of epilepsy in Brazil is similar to other resource-poor countries, and the treatment gap is high. Epilepsy is more prevalent among less wealthy people and in elderly people. There is an urgent need for education in Brazil to inform people that epilepsy is a treatable, as well as preventable, condition.