Incidence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy: a community-based prospective study in the province of Ferrara and in Copparo, Italy, 1996-2005.

Background:  The annual incidence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy ranges
from 41 to 97 diagnoses per 100 000 people in western Countries, with a reported
decline over time. We aimed at studying the incidence of epilepsy in children and
adolescents (1 month to 14 years) and its temporal trend in the province of
Ferrara, northern Italy. Methods:  We implemented a community-based prospective
multi-source registry. All children with newly diagnosed epilepsy in the period
1996-2005 were recorded. Results:  The incidence rate of newly diagnosed epilepsy
in the considered age range was 57 per 100 000 person-years, (95% CI: 49.3-65.9),
with a peak in the first year of life (109.4; 95% CI: 69.4-164.1), without
differences between the two gender. The estimates were significantly lower than
those observed previously (97.3; 95% CI: 81.9-115.7). Conclusions:  Incidence
rates for epilepsy in the Italian population aged 1 month to 14 years are in line
with those of other European and Northern American Countries. The incidence of
childhood epilepsy has declined over time in our area. A reduced impact of
serious perinatal adverse events could partly explain the decline.