Epidemiology of epilepsy in Singapore

Though epilepsy is recognised as a major medical and social problem in Singapore, there is no epidemiological survey to realise the size of the problem. We studied this problem from data collected from hospitals, school health clinics and from military statistics. The prevalence varied in the three sample populations studied. The most accurate data for prevalence study were obtained in army recruits. A life-time prevalence of 3.8 per 1000 was noted. The prevalence variation with age, sex and races is discussed. The mortality from epilepsy was 0.5 per 100,000. The types of epilepsies and the treatment patterns are discussed.