Prevalence of childhood epilepsy in Estonia.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To establish the prevalence rate (PR) and main characteristics of childhood epilepsy in Estonia.

METHODS:

We performed a population-based case ascertainment of all the possible sources of medical care in seven counties of Estonia from January 1995 to December 1997. Only cases of patients from 1 month to 19 years of age with active epilepsy (i.e., at least one seizure during the last 5 years, regardless of treatment) were included. All patients were examined by a pediatric neurologist.

RESULTS:

Five hundred sixty cases met the study criteria on the prevalence day, December 31, 1997. The total PR was 3.6 per 1,000 population (boy/girl ratio, 1.2:1.0). The PR was the highest-4.3 per 1,000-in the 5-to-9-year-old age group. The prevalence declined markedly in children age 14 years and on. The correlation between age and PR was negative (-0.542, p < 0.0001) by regression analyses. The most frequent seizure types in the total group were primarily generalized seizures-PR 2. 1/1,000 [rate ratio (RR) 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2, 1.6]. The predominance of generalized seizures was significant in those younger than 10 years. In 14.8% of cases, there was a history of epilepsy among first- and second-degree relatives. Benign rolandic epilepsy-PR 0.2/1,000-was the most frequent among idiopathic syndromes, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome-PR 0.08/1,000-was the most frequent among cryptogenic ones. Perinatal factors-PR 0.8/1,000 were the most frequently found cause of epilepsy. In 304 cases (54.2%), additional medical problems existed.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of childhood epilepsy was comparable with that found in developed countries. Generalized seizures predominated, and the main cause was perinatal factors.

• Authors: A Beilmann, A Napa, A Sööt, I Talvik, T Talvik
• Journal: Epilepsia (Epilepsia) Vol. 40 Issue 7 Pg. 1011-9 (Jul 1999) ISSN: 0013-9580 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10403228 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Age Factors
• Age of Onset
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Comorbidity
• Epilepsy (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Estonia (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Prevalence
• Sex Distribution
• Sex Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed