Objective: Epilepsy is a most common serious neurological disorder and
is one of the world’s most prevalent non-communicable diseases.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors
of epilepsy in 0–17 year old children in Trabzon, Turkey.
Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was performed
in two phases, a screening phase and a confirmation of the diagnosis
phase. The gold standard was a clinical investigation and neurological
examination. The diagnosis of epilepsy followed clinical guidelines
proposed by the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE). The
chi-square test was used in analysis of the results and P-value
<0.05 was calculated. Findings: The prevalence per 1000 participants
of epilepsy was 8.6 (5.9–11.4; 95%CI). We detected 37 cases (18
males and 19 females) of epilepsy. The male/female ratio was 0.95. This
study showed an increased risk for epilepsy with low socioeconomic
level, a history of postpartum seizure, meningitis, head trauma,
febrile convulsion and family history of epilepsy. More than one
seizure type was present in 15 (40.5%) of epileptic children.
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were determined in 24 patients
(64.9%) and absence type in 9 (24.3%). It was found that 25.0% of
children with epilepsy had never visited the school at the time the
study was performed due to the disease and attendant seizures.
Conclusion: The prevalence of epilepsy in Trabzon is low compared to
other parts of Turkey and other developing countries
