title: [Epidemiologic features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis from clinical data of patients receiving a public aid for treatment].
abstract: In 1999, clinical data of 125 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were obtained by the Research Committee from local prefectural governments. The data were made by physicians treating the patients, and were submitted to the governments when the patients applied for the aid. By analyzing the data, we observed the epidemiologic features of the disease in Japan, and discussed the availability of the data as the source of epidemiologic researches. Of the 125 patients, 66 were males and 59 were females. The distribution of age at onset had a peak in 5-14 years of age with the average of 10.3 years. Among the 109 cases in which the time of infection was obvious, more than 80% suffered from measles before 2 years of age, in agreement with the hypothesis that measles infection in young age is a risk factor of SSPE. The interval between measles and the onset of SSPE was between 5 and 10 years in most cases, with average of 8.8 years, median of 4.3 years, ranging from 2 months to 23.6 years. Because the data contain some problems, we have to observe the epidemiologic features of SSPE in Japan based on multiple data sources including this one, considering their advantages and disadvantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi. nakamuyk@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yosikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kazuie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iinuma
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nihei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000209:etiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy