Prevalence of epilepsy in rural Thailand: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
A study of the community-based burden of illness based upon prevalence is needed to plan intervention strategy.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in a rural population in Thailand.


METHODS
From January to June, 2000, all of the people in Talardkav sub-district were invited to be interviewed and examined by a neurologist who visited their village.


RESULTS
Of the 2,069 people in 553 households who gave information (72.2% of the total households), 43 had a history of seizure and of the 43, 15 were epileptics. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated at 7.2 per 1,000 population. The highest two peaks were in the age groups of 5-9 and 25-34 years (17.0, 17.4/1,000, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of epilepsy in rural Thailand is low, although probably underestimated, but it is the best to date for rural Thailand.
Asawavichienjinda
Thanin
T
Neurological Unit, Department of Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand.
Sitthi-Amorn
Chitr
C
Tanyanont
Wacharin
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology