Seizure disorders in preschool children in a Serbian district

All children born in 1989 and 1990 in the district of Krusevac in Central Serbia (population 140,000) were followed to the end of 1995. The total number of children was 3,102. The cumulative incidence of febrile seizures was 25. 1/1,000, that of single febrile seizures 3.9/1,000 and that of epilepsy (i.e. recurrent afebrile seizures) 6.5/1,000. The peak age-specific rate of the first febrile and the first afebrile seizure was in the second year of life (11.6/1,000 and 2.9/1,000, respectively). Among 20 cases of epileptic children, the most common type of seizure was the generalized type -14 cases (70%), while 6 children (30%) suffered from partial seizures. Of these epileptic children, there were 7 children (35%) with associated neurological abnormalities and/or mental retardation, including one with tuberous sclerosis. Thirteen of the total number of epilepsy cases were considered as having active epilepsy (i.e. still having had seizures and/or being on antiepileptic therapy). The calculated point prevalence rate was 4.2/1,000 on December 31, 1995.