Prevalence, Classification, and Severity of Epilepsy in Children in Western Norway

Abstract

Summary:Purpose: To determine prevalence of active epilepsy in school children in a defined area and assess the usefulness of International League Against Epilepsy classification of seizures and epileptic syndromes, with special emphasis on frequency, additional handicaps, and therapeutic problems of severe cases.Methods: The latest International League Against Epilepsy International Classification of Epileptic Seizures (ICES, 198 1) and Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndromes (ICE, 1989) were used for determination of prevalence rates, seizure types, epilepsies and epileptic syndromes, and additional neurological deficits in all 6-to 12-year-old children with epilepsy in a Norwegian county. Children had neuropediatric and EEC examination, intelligence evaluation, and, when necessary, additional investigations.Results: Prevalence of active epilepsy on January 1, 1995, was 5.1 per 1,000. Main seizure type and epilepsy syndrome could be classified in 98% and 90% of patients, respectively. Seizure types/epileptic syndromes were more often partiall localization related than generalized. Among generalized epilepsies, idiopathic forms were more frequent in girls, and cryptogenic and symptomatic forms more frequent in boys. Epileptogenic EEG activity was most often generalized or localized to one or two areas of the brain and was never found in 14% of patients. Symptomatic etiology was found in 46% of all children and in 81% of therapy-resistant cases, respectively. Over the years, 11 ?h of children had never used antiepileptic drugs (AED), 62% had tried one or two AEDs, and 26% had tried from three to 15 AEDs. Twenty-five percent of children were without present AED treatment. Complementary/alternative medicine had been tried by 12% of children.Conclusions: Although most epilepsies could be classified, the number of cases in non-specific categories was relatively high. Symptomatic etiology was frequent, especially in therapy-resistant cases. Multidisciplinary therapeutic and habilitation approaches are often needed in childhood epilepsy.

Clinical profile of childhood focal epilepsies in Jordan

“…It was reported the frequent occurrence of autistic behave in children and adolescents with epilepsy was (32%) (17). In our study, the figure is less than this, but it is closed to other report 7.1% (9).…”

Psychosocial problems and seizure-related factors in children with epilepsy

“…The study population and control group have been described previously (Waaler et al 2000, Høie et al 2005). As of January 1 1995, the county had 416 184 inhabitants and 38 593 of them were born between January 1 1982 and December 31 1988.…”

Incidence of epilepsy and seizure disorders in childhood and association with social determinants: a birth cohort study

“…Muitos estudos prévios sobre a prevalência e a incidência de epilepsia já foram publicados, com resultados variando de 0,9 a 57 casos por 1.000 habitantes para a prevalência, e 26 a 190 casos por 100.000 habitantes para a incidência [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] . Muitas dessas variações ocorreram devido a diferenças metodológicas, como definição de epilepsia, critérios diagnósti-cos, ou avaliação prospectiva ou retrospectiva dos dados 27 .…”

“…Muitos estudos avaliando a prevalência de epilepsia estão disponíveis na literatura, mas poucos estimaram a incidência de epilepsia em uma população específica de crianças [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] .…”