PREVALENCE OF ACTIVE EPILEPSY IN CHILDREN IN CROATIA: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF POPULATION-BASED RESEARCH

Objectives: Investigate the prevalence of active epilepsy in children 0 to 18 years in Croatia.

Methods: Data were collected by pediatricians and general practitioners working in primary health care. The physicians joined the “Collaborative group for epidemiology research of epilepsy in Croatia” by answering the specific questionnaires. The physicians were asked to specify the number of insured people in their care and the number of children with epilepsy, education, presence of motor or sensory handicap, name of antiepileptic used.

Results: Data were collected from 27 pediatricians and 29 general practitioners from all regions of Croatia. The total number of insured children 0 to 18 years in the care of physicians polled was 44,969. Among those were 229 children with epilepsy, the prevalence being 5/1000. Of the preschool children or those who finished elementary schooling, 47.5% live at home; 47.5% have a motor or sensory handicap, 38.7% have a slight, medium or serious mental retardation; 68.2% take one antiepileptic drug, 26.2% take 2, 18,% take 3 and 0.4% take 4.

Conclusion: The prevalence of epilepsy in children 0 to 18 years in Croatia is 5/1000 the same as reported in other European countries. These results have shown that 2/3 of the children take one antiepileptic drug considered the optimal therapy. A great number of children live at home and many have a handicap or mental retardation. The goal of this research is to help with specific education issues, psychosocial adjustment, employment and therapy.