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Epileptic Disorders

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Management of epilepsy in resource-limited settings Volume 17, issue 1, March 2015

TEST YOURSELF


(1) Why is the incidence of epilepsy so much higher in resource-limited countries than in the developed world?


(2) Why is phenobarbital still the drug of choice in resource-limited countries?

 

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Answers

(1) This higher incidence is related to increased risk factors, such as poor perinatal care, a higher frequency of head injury, and a high prevalence of infectious and parasitic diseases in poor countries.

 

(2) Phenobarbital remains the drug of choice in resource-limited countries because of its low cost and its long half-life that possibly protects against withdrawal seizures if intake is abruptly stopped because of interrupted supply.

 

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