International Journal of Medical and Dental Sciences

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Idiopathic Epilepsies - A Population Based Epidemiologic Study


Affiliations
1 Department of Neurology, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India
2 Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital Patiala, Punjab, India
3 Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India
4 Gian Sagar College of Nursing, Ram Nagar, Banur, Patiala, India
 

Background: There are only few epidemiological studies regarding epilepsy from this region. The classification of epilepsies has not been adequately stressed in these studies.

Objective: To assess the occurrence of idiopathic epilepsies in Punjab (A region situated in the Indo-Gagentic Plains), India.

Methods: A door to door, cross - sectional epidemiological survey covering an entire 103693 population residing in 74 contiguous villages situated outside the municipal limits of the District Headquarter town. Survey of all houses was done by general village level workers following which detailed case work up was done by postgraduate physicians. Final case identification was done by neurologists.

Results: Active epilepsy (n = 795) and inactive epilepsy (n = 128) comprised 74.78 % and 12.04 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063) and 86.13 % and 13.87 % of all epilepsy cases (n = 923) respectively. Non epileptic conditions comprised 11.74 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Single and febrile seizures were predominant among the non epileptic conditions being 6.2 % and 3.57 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Active epilepsy cases (n = 795) included electroclinical syndromes and constellations (n = 117, 14.72 %), symptomatic (n = 153, 19.24 %) and probably symptomatic cases (n = 513, 64.53 %) and cases with dual diagnosis (n = 12, 1.51 %). Idiopathic epilepsies (n = 112) consisted of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (n = 111) and benign childhood epilepsy (n = 1). Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n = 42) predominated idiopathic generalized epilepsy cases (n = 111).

Conclusions: Use of different terminology, definitions and criteria for diagnosis of various types of epilepsy precludes comparison between this study and other studies. This study showed significant variation in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy cases regarding sex distribution, diurnal variation and precipitating factors as compared to other studies. These differences need further confirmation.


Keywords

Epilepsy, Population - Based Epidemiology, Idiopathic Epilepsy, Active Epilepsy, Electroclinical Syndromes, Symptomatic Epilepsy.
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Leonardi M, Ustun TB. The Global Burden of Epilepsy. Epilepsia 2002;43:21–25.

  • Ellis N, Upton D, Thompson P. Epilepsy and the Family: a review of current literature. Seizure 2000;9:22-30.

  • World Health Organization. Epilepsy in the Western Pacific Region: a call to action: global campaign against epilepsy. Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, 2004.

  • Birbeck GL. Epilepsy care in developing countries: part ii of II. Epilepsy Currents 2010;10(5);105-110.

  • International League Against Epilepsy Commission Report. A Proposed Diagnostic Scheme for People with Epileptic Seizures and with Epilepsy: Report of the ILAE Task Force on Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia 2001;42(6):796-803.

  • Panayiotopoulos CP. Idiopathic epileptic seizures and syndromes in infancy. In: The Epilepsies – Seizures, Syndromes and Management. Oxfordshire: Bladon Medical Publishing; 2005.p.128-130, 304-307,308-320.

  • Koul R, Razdan S, Motta A. Prevalence and Pattern of Epilepsy (Lath/Mirgi/Laran) in Rural Kashmir, India. Epilepsia 1988;29(2):116-122.

  • Aziz H, Guvener A, Akhtar SW, Hasan KZ. Comparative Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Pakistan and Turkey: Population-Based studies using identical protocols. Epilepsia 1997;38(6):716-722.

  • Hauser WA, Annegers JF, Kurland LT. Prevalence of epilepsy in Rochester, Minnesota: 1940-1980. Epilepsia 1991; 32(4):429-445.

  • Al Rajeh S, Awada A, Bademosi O, Oguniyyi A. The prevalence of epilepsy and other seizure disorders in Arab population: A community based study. Seizure 2001;10:410-414.

  • Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy. Proposal for revised clinical and electeoencephalographic classification of Epileptic seizures. Epilepsia 1981;22:489-501.

  • Attia-Romdhane N, Mrabet A, Hamida BA. Prevalence of Epilepsy in Kelibia, Tunisia. Epilepsia 1993;34(6):1028-1032.

  • Rawiza HT, Kilonzo GP, Haule J, Matuja WBP, Mteza I, Mbena P, et al. Prevalence and Incidence of Epilepsy in Ulanga, a Rural Tanzanian District: A Community-Based Study. Epilepsia 1992;33(6):1051-1056.

  • Commission on Epidemiology and Prognosis, International League Against Epilepsy. Guidelines for Epidemiologic Studies on Epilepsy. Epilepsia 1993; 34(4):592-596.

  • Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy. Proposal for revised classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes. Epilepsia 1989;30(4):389-399.

  • Radhakrishnan K, Pandian JD, Santoshkumar T, Thomas SV, Deetha TD, Sarma PS, et al. Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Epilepsy in Kerala, South India. Epilepsia 2000;41(8):1027-1035.

  • Saha SP, Bhattachrya S, Roy BK, Basu A, Roy T, Maity B, et al. A prospective incidence study of epilepsy in a rural community of West-Bengal, India. Neurology Asia 2008;13:41 – 48.

  • Aziz H, Ali SM, Frances P, Khan MI, Hasan KZ. Epilepsy in Pakistan: A population-based epidemiological study. Epilepsia 1994;35(5):950-958.


Abstract Views: 279

PDF Views: 137




  • Idiopathic Epilepsies - A Population Based Epidemiologic Study

Abstract Views: 279  |  PDF Views: 137

Authors

Harbag S. Hara
Department of Neurology, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India
Mukhtiar Singh
Department of Neurology, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India
Ajay Gupta
Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital Patiala, Punjab, India
Rajnish Raj
Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India
Pritam K. Hara
Gian Sagar College of Nursing, Ram Nagar, Banur, Patiala, India

Abstract


Background: There are only few epidemiological studies regarding epilepsy from this region. The classification of epilepsies has not been adequately stressed in these studies.

Objective: To assess the occurrence of idiopathic epilepsies in Punjab (A region situated in the Indo-Gagentic Plains), India.

Methods: A door to door, cross - sectional epidemiological survey covering an entire 103693 population residing in 74 contiguous villages situated outside the municipal limits of the District Headquarter town. Survey of all houses was done by general village level workers following which detailed case work up was done by postgraduate physicians. Final case identification was done by neurologists.

Results: Active epilepsy (n = 795) and inactive epilepsy (n = 128) comprised 74.78 % and 12.04 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063) and 86.13 % and 13.87 % of all epilepsy cases (n = 923) respectively. Non epileptic conditions comprised 11.74 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Single and febrile seizures were predominant among the non epileptic conditions being 6.2 % and 3.57 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Active epilepsy cases (n = 795) included electroclinical syndromes and constellations (n = 117, 14.72 %), symptomatic (n = 153, 19.24 %) and probably symptomatic cases (n = 513, 64.53 %) and cases with dual diagnosis (n = 12, 1.51 %). Idiopathic epilepsies (n = 112) consisted of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (n = 111) and benign childhood epilepsy (n = 1). Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n = 42) predominated idiopathic generalized epilepsy cases (n = 111).

Conclusions: Use of different terminology, definitions and criteria for diagnosis of various types of epilepsy precludes comparison between this study and other studies. This study showed significant variation in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy cases regarding sex distribution, diurnal variation and precipitating factors as compared to other studies. These differences need further confirmation.


Keywords


Epilepsy, Population - Based Epidemiology, Idiopathic Epilepsy, Active Epilepsy, Electroclinical Syndromes, Symptomatic Epilepsy.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/ijmds%2F2015%2F79792