Objective: to study the socio-demographic characteristics of epileptic school children and the risk factors for epilepsy in the study area.
Study design: Case- Control study.
Setting: Two primary and one preparatory school children, Assiut Governorate, Upper Egypt.
Subjects: The target population were basic education (primary and preparatory schools) epileptic school children. Matched controls for epileptic children were taken from the same schools..
Methodology: Structured questionnaire of epileptic children and their controls included sociodemographic characteristics as age, sex, educational class and questions about the risk factors hypothesized from reviewing the literature and previous studies such as many perinatal, infantile and childhood illnesses and exposures. Other family factors were included such as history of consanguinity and family history of epilepsy. The questionnaire was completed through personal interview with the caregivers of school children either cases or control. The part of the questionnaire including questions about the perinatal factors was completed from the mothers of the children.
Results: The sample included 200 cases and controls each. 53.6% of epileptic cases were females. Rural residents represented 56.0% of cases and controls. The significant risk factors for developing epilepsy were: Family history of epilepsy, Low socioeconomic level, birth trauma, head trauma, history of febrile convulsions, neonatal jaundice, premature rupture of membranes and prematurity.
Conclusion: Raising the socioeconomic level of epileptic persons by finding opportunities for them to education and employment to break the link between epilepsy and poverty was recommended. Training of the general practioners, obstetricians, and pediatricians about proper antenatal, natal and postnatal care and management to avoid intrauterine infections, birth trauma and neonatal problems is crucial.