Prevalence of childhood epilepsy in Estonia.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Beilmann
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tartu, Estonia.
Napa
A
A
Sööt
A
A
Talvik
I
I
Talvik
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed