Affiliations: Genetics of Epilepsy Research in Israel, Department of
Neurology, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel | Clallit Health Fund, Southern District, Beer-Sheva,
Israel | Pediatric Neurology Unit, Soroka University Medical
Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel | Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health
Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel | Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center,
Haifa, Israel
Abstract: Since population-based data on epilepsy prevalence in Israel is not
available, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of epilepsy in
Bedouin children between the ages of 0–16 years living in Southern Israel. A
cross-sectional study was conducted which included the collection of clinical
and demographic data as well as the diagnosis of epilepsy in relatives
(first/second-rank family connection). Data was collected from all 23 primary
care clinics (Clallit health fund) in the Bedouin sector, Southern Israel, and
from the computerized files of the neurology clinic, Soroka University medical
center, Beer-Sheva. The study population consisted of 68,578 Bedouin children
from birth to 16 years, of which 275 were diagnosed with epilepsy. The epilepsy
prevalence of 4.01, is less than world estimate (4.5–17 per 1000), with huge
differences between various clinics and age subgroups, ranging from 0 to 11.10.
Most children received care only from their family doctor rather than from a
neurologist and the type of epilepsy was not classified. Twenty-four families
(74 children) had more than one relative of first or second rank suffering from
epilepsy, indicating the existence of definite genetic involvement. Failure to
diagnose and/or to refer suspected episodes of epilepsy to Soroka neurology
clinic may be explained by either the failure to recognize the episode as
epileptic or non-compliance due to fear of social stigma. Further research is
necessary to explain these findings.
Keywords: Bedouins, childhood epilepsy, epidemiology, cross-sectional study
