Study of seizure and epilepsy in Chinese children in Hong Kong: Period prevalence and patterns

Abstract

The Hong Kong Children's Seizure and Epilepsy Registry was set up for all children with a history of seizures or epilepsy followed up in the Epilepsy Clinic of the University of Hong Kong. The aim was to study the pattern of seizures and epileptic disorders in Chinese children. The objective was to study the period prevalence of epilepsy and the pattern of epilepsy in Chinese children. A prospective study of seizure and epilepsy in Chinese children was conducted from 1985 to 1997 in Hong Kong. The population census of 1997 was used to calculate the period prevalence of epilepsy in Chinese children. Altogether, 1103 children aged < 19 years at first assessment with epilepsy were included in the study. The period prevalence rate of epilepsy in 1997 (January to December) is estimated to be 4.5 per 1000 children aged < 19 years. The estimated period prevalence rate of children and adolescents with epilepsy in our children is 4.5 per 1000 children.