Prevalence and risk factors of epilepsy among school children in eastern Turkey.
Epilepsy is a serious chronic brain disorder of childhood. We performed a cross-sectional prevalence study, determined the prevalence of childhood epilepsy, and identified the significance of certain risk factors for epilepsy among 1625 primary-school students aged 6-14 years, living in the center of Kars province. A questionnaire was prepared according to the definitions and principles of the Commission on Epidemiology and Prognosis, International League Against Epilepsy. Twenty-two children were diagnosed as epileptic. The point prevalence of active epilepsy in males was 4.9/1000, and in females 12.4/1000, representing a total of 8.6/1000. The cumulative prevalence in males was 11.0/1000, and 16.1/1000 in females, representing a total of 13.5/1000. Febrile convulsions, family history of epilepsy, serious maternal illness during pregnancy, a history of head trauma, antenatal/postnatal problems, and a history of neonatal jaundice were statistically significantly related to the development of epilepsy.
Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey. nergizabbas@gmail.com
Nergiz
N
Huseyinoglu
Serkan
S
Ozben
Ebru
E
Arhan
Yilmaz
Y
Palanci
Nurettin
N
Gunes
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology