Epidemiology of epilepsy in New Valley Governorate, Al Kharga District, Egypt.

UNLABELLED: Epilepsy is one of the serious neurological disorders which results in profound morbidity and mortality. Although epilepsy has no geographical boundaries, understanding cultural, social, and economic backgrounds is a very important step for interpretation of its epidemiological characteristics. This work aims to study the epidemiological profile of epilepsy in New Valley Governorate and to estimate its magnitude of treatment gap. It was conducted in a door to door survey, including all inhabitants (62,583 subjects), by 3 neurologists to detect any suspected case of focal or generalized epilepsy. All suspected cases were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, EEG, neuroimaging studies, and estimation of serum drug level if needed. The study revealed that life time prevalence of epilepsy in Al Kharga district is 6.76/1000, with highest peak during early child hood, while that of active epilepsy is 4.99/1000 population. The annual incidence rate is 43.14/100,000, and age specific incidence rate has a U-shaped pattern with two peaks of incidence at early infancy and elderly. Localization-related epilepsy is the most frequently encountered type (53.7%). However the treatment gap of epilepsy in New Valley is similar to that in developing countries (61.5%). CONCLUSION: Prevalence and Incidence Rate of epilepsy in New Valley are similar to that in industrialized countries.

Epidemiology of major neurological disorders project in Al Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt.

BACKGROUND/METHODS: A door-to-door ('every door') study was carried out to assess the incidence and prevalence rates of epilepsy, stroke, Bell's palsy and cerebral palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural populations of Al Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt. The study was carried out in 3 stages from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009. A door-to-door screening including every door was carried out using a standardized questionnaire, which was administered by 3 neurologists to all inhabitants (62,583) of Al Kharga district. The study was designed to assess the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of major neurological disorders in Al Kharga district and aimed to reduce the burden of these neurological disorders in the entire region. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified that dementia, primary nocturnal enuresis, epilepsy, stroke and cerebral palsy are the most common neurological disorders. On the other hand, Bell's palsy, extrapyramidal syndromes, cerebellar ataxia, muscle dystrophies and myasthenia gravis are less common neurological disorders in Al Kharga district.