[Epileptic seizures among the population of Mokotów: incidence and prognosis]

In the years 1976-1979 all cases of first epileptic seizure of any type were analysed in the whole population of the Mokotów District. The total number of patients with the first seizure in life was 272. The mean annual incidence coefficients were: for the repeatedly occurring seizures (i.e.epilepsy)--21.2/100 thousand of the general population, including 25.3 for men and 17.5% for women; isolated seizures--8.0 and 10.1 and 6.1 respectively; febrile seizures (diagnosed in children aged up to 4 years)--12.9 and 15.6 and 10.4 respectively; in another 2.3 subjects per 100 thousand the reported seizures were suspected of being epilepsy. It may be stated, generally, that in each 100 thousand of the population 44 subjects require annually examination because of epileptic seizure of seizures (or a disease in which seizures were one of its signs). The incidence was higher in men than in women (54 and 36 respectively). Epilepsy incidence coefficients and similar coefficients of isolated seizures were low in the first two decades of life, rising then gradually to a maximal level at the age of 70 and more years (60,3/100 thousand). The aetiology of the disease was disclosed in 70% of cases: head trauma in 20%, chronic alcoholism in 16%, stroke in 12%, brain tumour in about 10%. These were the most frequent aetiological factors. During follow-up 31 patients died, mostly the cases of brain tumour (40%), stroke (29%) and intracranial haematomas (about 10%). EEG obtained shortly after the first seizure is of low prognostic value.