Prevalence of Epilepsy in Rural Thailand : A Population Based Study
THANIN ASAWAVICHIENJINDA, M.D.*, CHITR SITTHI-AMORN, M.D., Ph.D.**, WACHARIN TANYANONT, MS.***
Affiliation : * Neurological Unit, Department of Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and College of Public Health, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, *** College of Public Health, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Purpose : To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in a rural population in Thailand.
Method : From January to June, 2000, all of the people in Talardkav sub-district were invited to be interviewed and examined by a neurologist who visited their village.
Results : Of the 2,069 people in 553 households who gave information (72.2% of the total households), 43 had a history of seizure and of the 43, 15 were epileptics. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated at 7.2 per 1,000 population. The highest two peaks were in the age groups of 5-9 and 25-34 years (17.0, 17.411,000, respectively).
Conclusion :The prevalence of epilepsy in rural Thailand is low, although probably under estimated, but it is the best to date for rural Thailand.
Keywords : Epilepsy, Epidemiology, Population-Based Study, Prevalence, Thailand
