Fowzia Siddiqi Md.
Epilepsy: the Pakistan perspective some suggestions.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;8(2):1-2.

Epilepsy is a disease that affects more than 65 million people around the world. In Pakistan prevalence of epilepsy is 9.99/1000 people, thus around 2million people in Pakistan suffering from epilepsy1,2.The prevalence in children is much higher 14.6/10003,4,5.Prof. Charles Newton in the lancet quotes 50,000 deaths from epilepsy annually in the US6. The death rate in the developing countries is much higher. The exact figures are difficult to assess due to lack of epidemiological surveys and incomplete data collection. However it is thought that the number will be greater and considered at least twice to three times the estimated figures7. This is disturbing considering the fact that this is a controllable disorder. Sadly adequate facilities for diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management specifically for epilepsy are virtually nonexistent. Though some epidemiological studies have been done the variation in methodology and population sample shows the need for appropriatedata collection4. The manifestations of epilepsy are diverse varying from brief “staring spells” in children often overlooked, to repeated seizures of such seriousness as status epilepticus requiring hospitalizations, resulting in death or permanent morbidity.

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