Abstract
In a door-to-door survey of common neurological disorders in Sicily (SNES Project), we administered a screening symptoms questionnaire and a brief neurological examination to detect epileptic patients. All of the subjects effectively resident in the community of Riposto on 1 November 1987 (prevalence day) were investigated (n=9956). The subjects with a positive questionnaire or a previous diagnosis of epilepsy were extensively examined by a neurologist and then definitively classified for epilepsy by a panel of senior neurologists. The crude prevalence of active and non-active epilepsy was 3.21/1000; the prevalence of active epilepsy alone was 2.71/1000. Of the 27 active cases, sixteen were affected by genralized tonic-clonic seizures, four by absences and four by complex partial attacks. All except two were being treated with antiepileptic drugs, most with phenobarbital. Our prevalence rate is lower than that reported by most authors, but similar to the rates in other Sicilian communities.
Sommario
Nell'ambito di un'indagine porta a porta su alcune comuni malattie neurologiche in Sicilia (Progetto SNES), abbiamo somministrato un questionario di screening mirato sui sintomi ed un breve esame neurologico allo scopo di individuare i pazienti epilettici. Tutti i soggetti effettivamente residenti al 1° novembre 1987 (giorno di prevalenza) nel comune di Riposto sono stati studiati (N=9956).
Quelli positivi al questionario o con una diagnosi precedente di epilessia sono stati accuratamente valutati da un neurologo e quindi rivalutati per la diagnosi definitiva da un gruppo di neurologi esperti. Il tasso di prevalenza grezzo di tutte le epilessie (attive e non attive) à risultato di 3,21/1000; la prevalenza delle sole forme attive era di 2,71/1000. Su 27 casi di epilessia attiva, 16 erano affetti da crisi generalizzate tonico-cloniche, 4 da assenze, 4 da crisi parziali complesse. Tutti tranne due pazienti erano in trattamento con farmaci antiepilettici, la gran parte con fenobarbital. Il nostro tasso di prevalenza è inferiore a quelli riportati dalla maggior parte degli autori, ma molto vicino ai valori riscontrati in altri comuni siciliani.
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Reggio, A., Failla, G., Patti, F. et al. Prevalence of epilepsy. A door-to-door survey in the sicilian community of riposto. Ital J Neuro Sci 17, 147–151 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02000846
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02000846