Screening of epilepsy among Schoolchildren in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Introduction: Seizure is a clinical state that represents with abnormal and paroxysmal discharges in cerebral cortex and epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which the patient has experienced two or more seizures through cut life. The purpose of this study was screening of epilepsy among school children in Bandar Abbas. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, among 63836 school children, 110 epilepsy cases (aged 6-19 y/o) were diagnosed and evaluated. Data including demographic characteristics, family history, past medical history, risk factors, treatment protocol and side effects of drugs were recorded. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 software. Results: The prevalence rate of epilepsy in our study was 1.7 per 1,000. The highest rate of epilepsy was in the 6-11 years old age group (41.82%). Prevalence rate of epilepsy in girls was more than boys. Family history of epilepsy was positive in 34 patients (30.91%). Positive past medical history of febrile convulsion was reported in 52.73%, head trauma in 34.55% and meningoencephalitis in 2.73% of the cases. The results showed significant relationship between epilepsy prevalence and history of febrile convulsion (P<0.05). Generalized Tonic Clonic Epilepsy was reported in 41.82% of the cases. Conclusion: In this study, positive history of febrile convulsion and family history of epilepsy were two major risk factors but, age, sex and meningoencephalitis were not.