PREVALENCE OF EPILEPSY AND EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN 10-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN- RESULTS FROM THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES STUDY

With reported prevalence rates of 4-9 cases per 1,000 children, childh ood epilepsy is a major public health concern. Reported prevalence rat es vary, mainly because researchers often use different epilepsy defin itions, In addition, total prevalence may be underestimated if incompl ete case-ascertainment methods are used. We used a multiple-source cas e-ascertainment method that included obtaining information from electr oencephalogram laboratories to estimate the prevalence of epilepsy and to classify seizure types among 10-year-old children. In the metropol itan Atlanta (GA, U.S.A.) area, we found a lifetime prevalence of chil dhood epilepsy of 6 per 1,000 (95% confidence interval, 5.5-6.5) 10-ye ar-old children. However, using capture-recapture analysis, this preva lence may be as high as 7.7 per 1,000. Proportionately more boys than girls had epilepsy, The prevalence did not vary appreciably by race. P artial seizures, including secondarily generalized seizures, were the most common seizure type (58%). Of children with epilepsy, 35% had ano ther developmental disability (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, vis ual impairment, or hearing impairment). An accurate estimate of the pu blic health burden of childhood epilepsy and determination of possible risk factors for idiopathic epilepsy both depend on conducting comple te community-based case ascertainment and obtaining detailed clinical data.