Deck 51: Epidemiology of Epilepsy

Question 1

Epilepsy is diagnosed by confirmation of two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours in an individual.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A simple seizure is one in which there is no loss of consciousness, and a complex seizure is one in which there is impaired awareness or loss of consciousness.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

By definition, idiopathic epilepsy has a genetic basis.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Symptomatic epilepsy has a known underlying cause such as developmental delay, trauma, tumor, or infection.

Question 5

Only a small fraction of epileptic cases in children have unknown etiology.

Question 6

Among children with epilepsy, about 22% of cases are idiopathic (genetic), and 28% are symptomatic or associated with a structural anomaly in the brain.

Question 7

Children with febrile seizures invariably develop epilepsy.

Question 8

Most children (over 90%) affected by febrile seizures recover completely over time without developing epilepsy.

Question 9

Status epilepticus, a life-threatening seizure that lasts longer than 30 minutes, has a strong genetic basis.

Question 10

Worldwide, more than 50 million people have epilepsy, and 30 million cases have never received treatment.

Question 11

The age-specific incidence of epilepsy has a U-shaped distribution with high rates in children and the elderly.

Question 12

Across all populations studied, the annual suicide rate among patients with epilepsy is similar to the rate in the general population.

Question 13

In utero exposures to alcohol, trauma, hypoxia, and certain infection agents all increase the risk of epilepsy in infants.

Question 14

Risk factors for the development of epileptic seizures in adults include stroke and hypoglycemia.

Question 15

Certain parasitic infections have been found to precipitate epileptic seizure activity.

Question 16

Approximately how many people suffer from epilepsy in the world population?

A) 5 million
B) 10 million
C) 25 million
D) 50 million

Question 17

Globally, approximately how many people with epilepsy have never received any treatment?

A) 10 million
B) 20 million
C) 30 million
D) 40 million

Question 18

Genetic syndromes account for approximately what percentage of childhood cases of epilepsy?

A) Less than 10%
B) 10-20%
C) 20-30%
D) 30-40%

Question 19

Approximately what percentage of childhood cases of epilepsy have unknown etiology?

A) Less than 10%
B) 10-20%
C) 20-30%
D) 30-40%
E) 40-50%

Question 20

What percentage of children who have febrile seizures eventually develop epilepsy?

A) 0-10%
B) 10-20%
C) 20-30%
D) 30-40%

Question 21

The risk of developing epilepsy among children afflicted by febrile seizures is increased by approximately:

A) 2-fold.
B) 3-fold.
C) 4-fold.
D) 5-fold.
E) 10-fold.

Question 22

The concordance of status epilepticus among monozygous twins is approximately:

A) 10%.
B) 50%.
C) 67%.
D) 100%.

Question 23

In rural communities of many underdeveloped nations, the treatment gap (proportion of people with epilepsy who never receive treatment) is approximately:

A) 25%.
B) 50%.
C) 75%.
D) 95%.

Question 24

Compared to the general population, the incidence of suicide among patients with epilepsy is increased by about:

A) 50%.
B) 2-fold.
C) 4-fold.
D) 8-fold.

Question 25

Known risk factors for childhood epilepsy include all of the following except:

A) in utero exposure to alcohol.
B) allergies.
C) febrile seizures.
D) genetic predisposition.

Question 26

Known risk factors for adult onset epilepsy include all of the following except:

A) stroke.
B) hyperglycemia.
C) parasitic infection.
D) cigarette smoking.

Question 27

Patients with epilepsy are at increased risk of dying from all of the following except:

A) status epilepticus.
B) suicide.
C) homicide.
D) accidental trauma.
E) sudden unexpected death.

Question 28

Discuss the criteria for the diagnosis of epilepsy.

Question 29

Characterize the global distribution of epilepsy.

Question 30

Contrast risk factors for epilepsy in children versus adults.

Question 31

Discuss findings of studies of in utero exposures and the development of childhood epilepsy.

Question 32

Discuss studies of febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy.

Question 33

Discuss status epilepticus.

Question 34

Characterize the case fatality and risk of suicide among patients with epilepsy.

Question 35

Discuss the epilepsy treatment gap and strategies for improving the treatment of epilepsy.