title: Epilepsy among children in Greenland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy has been considered to be more frequent in Greenland than in Denmark, where the prevalence among children is 0.40%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy among children in Greenland aged 0-15 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  During autumn 2000, 13 out of 18 hospitals in Greenland were visited. The population of children in the areas visited was 11,965 of a total of 15,226 in Greenland. All children with the diagnosis of epilepsy were referred for evaluation and the diagnosis was confirmed. When possible, informed consent was obtained to collect data from medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  43 children (18 boys) had the diagnosis of epilepsy. For 38 (15 boys) further data were obtained. Mean age was 8.5 years (3-14) for boys and 7.9 years (2-14) for girls. The age at diagnosis was 4.9 years (1-11) for boys and 4.2 years (0-10) for girls. The prevalence of epilepsy was 0.34%. In 31 cases an electroencephalograph (EEG) recording was done, comprising sleep recordings in 26 cases. Medication was according to recommendations in Denmark.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of epilepsy in children and the medical treatment of epilepsy among children in Greenland is the same as in Denmark.
authors.affiliation: Roskilde University Hospital, Denmark. rssubl@ra.dk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blichfeldt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bille
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence