[Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in childhood]

Abstract

Introduction: Data coming from the literature regarding the frequency of epilepsies in childhood are different, depending on the methodology used, and it is noteworthy that there exist very few studies conducted among us.

Development: Factors influencing the disparities of the figures found in the literature about incidence and prevalence of epilepsies are analyzed; among them, the diversity of the diagnostic criteria employed (sometimes not reported, other times imprecise or with inclusion of non epileptic episodes), the methodology used in the study for data collection (hospitals, surveys, reviews, follow-ups), and the study population are prominent. Annual incidence rates that have been published range between 11/100,000 and 145/100,000, being the majority between 27/100,000 and 70/100,000. Estimations about prevalence range between 0.8/1,000 and 49/1,000, which in the school population among us means 5.7/1,000.