在描述儿童癫痫发作的流行病学时,通常包括所有癫痫发作和综合征的类型;因此,难以量化专门针对全身性癫痫发作的数据。不过,一项研究发现,全面性癫痫和综合征更常见于 0-5 岁儿童中,而局灶性癫痫发作更常见于年龄较大的儿童中。[3]Eriksson KJ, Koivikko MJ. Prevalence, classification, and severity of epilepsy and epileptic syndromes in children. Epilepsia. 1997;38:1275-1282.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9578522?tool=bestpractice.com
癫痫发病率与年龄有关:其中出生第一年最高,其次是 1-10 岁(每年 40 - 50 例/100,000 人),再其次是青少年(每年 20 例/100,000 人)。[4]Hauser WA. The prevalence and incidence of convulsive disorders in children. Epilepsia. 1994;35(suppl 2):S1-S6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275976?tool=bestpractice.com 估计在所有儿童中,有 0.4%~0.8% 在 11 岁之前会出现某一类型的癫痫发作。[5]Hauser WA, Hesdorffer DC. Epilepsy: frequency, causes, and consequences. New York, NY: Demos; 1990:18-21. 全球新发癫痫的平均年发病率大约是 5-10 例/每 10,000 名儿童和青少年。[4]Hauser WA. The prevalence and incidence of convulsive disorders in children. Epilepsia. 1994;35(suppl 2):S1-S6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8275976?tool=bestpractice.com 在北美洲,儿童癫痫总的发病率是每年每 100,000 名儿童 40 例。[6]Camfield CS, Camfield PR, Gordon K, et al. Incidence of epilepsy in childhood and adolescents: a population-based study in Nova Scotia from 1977 to 1985. Epilepsia. 1996;37:19-23.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8603618?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Hauser WA, Annegers JF, Kurland LT. Incidence of epilepsy and unprovoked seizures in Rochester, Minnesota: 1935-1984. Epilepsia. 1993 May-Jun;34(3):453-68.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8504780?tool=bestpractice.com 首次无诱因惊厥发作后的风险估计值变化较大。[8]Berg AT. Risk of recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure. Epilepsia. 2008;49 Suppl 1:13-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18184149?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Ramos Lizana J, Cassinello Garcia E, Carrasco Marina LL, et al. Seizure recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure in childhood: a prospective study. Epilepsia. 2000;41:1005-1013.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10961628?tool=bestpractice.com