Epidemiological Survey of Epilepsy in the Special School Population in the City of Buenos Aires

Abstract

Background: Previous studies in special schools have shown a high prevalence of epilepsy, which is strongly associated with cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. The conditions regulating school placement have also been described in those studies. In the City of Buenos Aires, information is known only for mainstream schools. Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of epilepsy in special schools and to compare results with common primary education settings. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in special schools in the City of Buenos Aires, by adopting the same definitions, diagnostic criteria and questionnaire as those used in a previous study in the common primary school population. Responses from 1,682 children, aged 6–16 years, residing in the City of Buenos Aires, with mental retardation, visual or hearing impairment, psychiatric disorders and motor disabilities were analyzed. Results: A total of 121 children with epilepsy were detected. Lifetime prevalence was 71.9‰ and active prevalence was 64.8‰ (22–25 times greater than rates in mainstream schools). Prevalence was highest in girls and generalized seizures prevailed over other seizure types. Ninety-two percent of cases received antiepileptic drugs, 57.9% as a single drug treatment and 85.1% in adequate doses. Only 56% of the children with a diagnosis of epilepsy proved to be true-positive cases, and almost 40% received antiepileptic drugs for nonepileptic disorders. Malformations/degenerative disease were the most common etiology. Conclusions: Special schools contain clusters of children with epilepsy as a comorbid condition. False high frequency is due to misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments. These schools are an important target for educational interventions.

Prevalence of epilepsy in the university students representing a young adult population with normal intelligence

“…[12] Thus, our study shows a similar prevalence of active epilepsy compared to studies that have been conducted in other regions of Turkey, except for the study of Calişir et al On the other hand, our population did not include subjects with mental impairment, who may have more higher incidence (22-25 times greater) of epilepsy than subjects with normal intelligence. [17] When compared to the prevalence rates worldwide, the prevalence of epilepsy varies between countries. The reported rates range from 3.14/1000 in China to 9.8/1000 in Benin for epilepsy in young adult populations.…”

Karakteristik anak epilepsi di Sekolah Luar Biasa Negeri (SLBN) Cileunyi Bandung tahun 2018

“…Penentuan jumlah sampel minimum menggunakan formula deskriptif kategorik dan didapatkan 13 subjek penelitian. Hasil dan Simpulan: Karakteristik yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah jenis kelamin laki-laki (8), usia ≥ 16 tahun (5), tingkat pendidikan Sekolah Dasar (7), jenis kejang tonik-klonik umum (7), terdapat riwayat kejang berulang (11), satu tipe kejang (6), onset kejang terjadi pada usia bayi (7), durasi kejang < 15 menit (9), usia persalinan cukup bulan ((9), berat badan lahir ≥ 2500 gram (9), persalinan secara spontan melalui vagina (10), dan memiliki riwayat kejang demam (7). berdampak pada proses pembelajaran, tumbuh dan kembang, serta kualitas hidup anak.…”

“…3 Begitu pula dengan prevalensi anak dengan epilepsi aktif di Sekolah Luar Biasa di City of Buenos Aires yaitu mencapai 22 -25 kali lebih besar dibandingkan dengan sekolah umum. 7 Di Indonesia belum ada penelitian yang menggambarkan karakteristik penderita epilepsi berdasarkan karakteristik demografis, sosial ekonomi, klinis epilepsi, prenatal, perinatal, dan postnatal pada anak dengan disabilitas intelektual di Sekolah Luar Biasa (SLB) terutama di Bandung, Jawa Barat. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat membantu memberikan wawasan kepada orang tua mengenai karakteristik anak dengan epilepsi di Sekolah Luar Biasa (SLB) sehingga orang tua dapat lebih dini memberikan penanganan secara tepat pada anak yang memiliki karakteristik sama seperti pasien epilepsi.…”