EPILEPSY IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition with a high incidence and prevalence nationally. It has direct and indirect somatic, psychological, and social impacts. It is associated with neuroelectric imbalances and threshold perversity in neurological interactions. The updated national epidemiological profile of pediatric epilepsy highlighted the persistence of obstacles in the diagnosis and management of the disease in Brazil, such as low medical density and difficulty accessing pediatric healthcare. The collected data provide the basis for formulating association hypotheses for future studies, as proposed in the objective, and reinforce the urgency of strengthening primary care and training professionals for the early diagnosis and appropriate management of childhood epilepsy, investing in information systems to reduce the high rate of missing data, allowing for more precise and targeted epidemiological analyses. Furthermore, the development of public health strategies focused on early childhood and regions with the highest incidence is crucial, aiming to reduce emergency hospitalizations and improve the quality of life of pediatric patients and their families.