Article Text
PDF
Abstract
Aim To evaluate and compare the incidence of PS and BECTS.
Methods Criteria for the definition of PS and BECTS were circulated monthly to paediatricians with an interest in epilepsy. The geographical area covered a population of approximately 600,000 children (<15 years of age). Clinicians were requested to notify all new cases of PS and BECTS using a standard proforma over a 16 month period. All EEGs undertaken in the same geographical catchment area during this period and independently reported by two clinical neurophysiologists were reviewed to identify any additional new cases to maximise ascertainment.
Results New cases of PS and BECTS were identified in 7 and 51 children respectively, representing an annual incidence of 0.8 and 6.3 per 100,000, respectively. There was a longer delay before PS was diagnosed.
Conclusion From the observed incidence, this study suggests that PS is a relatively uncommon partial epilepsy syndrome, and certainly far less common than BECTS. There is a delay of several years from onset before diagnosis of PS.
Acknowledgement Members of the Mersey Region Paediatric Interest Group (EPIC) are thanked for recruiting patients to this study.
