Prevalencia, conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de epilepsia en la parroquia Zhidmad de la provincia del Azuay. Cuenca, 2009

Abstract

Epilepsy is considered a public health problem, is a group of disorders characterized by the presence of chronic disorders, and recurrent paroxysmal neurologic function secondary to a disturbance in the brain's electrical activity. It is believed that this disease potential stigmatization and psychosocial implications. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of the inhabitants of the parish of Zhidmad evaluate the prevalence, trend presentation and the epidemiological association between some variables and the presence of epilepsy. We performed an observational, transversal and descriptive. 6 positives were identified with confirmed diagnoses (1.7%). We included 359 people consulted, and as a result, with a slight predominance of males (52.9%). 33.3% had secondarily generalized crisis and 66.6% had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 33.33% belong to the age group of 21-60 years. 72.4% had heard about epilepsy, 62.1% knew someone who had epilepsy and 65.5% had seen a person have a crisis. 34.5% would not allow your child to share activities with an epileptic child and only 58% thought that people with epilepsy should have jobs similar to those of others. The prevalence corresponds to 1.67%. It is important to disseminate information on Epilepsy, both patients and relatives, and the medical personnel working in this area to conduct a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment to improve the quality of life in these patients.