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Prevalence and characteristics of epilepsy in children in northern Sweden
R Sidenvall1, L Forsgren, J Heijbel
1Department of Pediatrics, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
The prevalence of active epilepsy in children aged 0-16 in northern Sweden is 4.2 per 1000. Children with neurodevelopmental deficits experienced more frequent seizures and generalized epilepsy syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Active epilepsy prevalence was assessed in a defined pediatric population.
- Understanding epilepsy epidemiology in children is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of active epilepsy in children aged 0-16 years in northern Sweden.
- To investigate the association between neurodevelopmental deficits and epilepsy types and seizure frequency.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study was conducted in northern Sweden.
- Prevalence of active epilepsy was calculated for children aged 0-16 years.
- Epilepsy syndromes, aetiology, neurodeficit, and seizure control were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of active epilepsy was 4.2 per 1000 children.
- Partial seizures were more common than generalized seizures.
- Children with neurodeficit (42%) more frequently had generalized epilepsy syndromes and less seizure freedom compared to the non-ND group.
Conclusions:
- Active epilepsy affects 4.2/1000 children in this region.
- Neurodevelopmental deficits are associated with more severe epilepsy presentations and poorer seizure control.
Abstract:
Active epilepsy was assessed in all children aged 0-16 years in an area of northern Sweden with about 250,000 inhabitants and around 50,000 children in the age group. One hundred and fifty-five children fulfilled the criteria of active epilepsy giving a prevalence rate of 4.2/1000. The proportion of boys to girls was 1:1.1. This dominance of girls had also been seen in a prospective study of incidence of epilepsy in the same area. Partial seizures were more common than generalized. Among the syndromes benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes occurred in 17.4%, absence epilepsy in 6.5% and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in 5.8%. Children with neurodeficit (ND) more often had generalized epileptic syndromes while the non-ND groups more often had localisation related syndromes. The aetiology was regarded to be remote symptomatic in 42%, idiopathic in 28% and cryptogenic in 30% of the children. Almost all children were on antiepileptic treatment, three quarters of them on monotherapy. Neurodeficit was noted in 42%. The prevalence of epilepsy and mental retardation was 1.7/1000. Relatively few children with neurodeficit had been seizure free during the last year, 43% had more than one seizures per month compared to 19% in the non-ND group.