Abstract
ObjectiveTo describe access to antiepileptic drug therapy and estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in children in Camagüey Province, Cuba.MethodsAll the community pharmacies in the province were visited and information collected about the number of children receiving antiepileptic drugs in 2009. Availability and cost of each antiepileptic drug were determined. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated by determining the number of children receiving antiepileptic drugs.ResultsThere were 923 children who received a total of 977 antiepileptic drugs in Camagüey Province. The estimated prevalence of epilepsy was 5.18 per thousand children which is lower than previously reported rates in other low and lower-middle income countries. Most of the children (871, 94%) received a single antiepileptic drug. Carbamazepine and valproate were the two most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drugs. Antiepileptic drugs were available from the local pharmacy on 76% of occasions. If the antiepileptic drug was not available from the local pharmacy, the parent had to travel to another pharmacy to obtain the medicine.ConclusionsThe estimated prevalence of epilepsy in children in Cuba is lower than that estimated in other lower-middle income countries. Access to drug therapy in children with epilepsy can be achieved in lower-middle income countries.
Highlights
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions affecting children worldwide
The estimated prevalence of epilepsy in children in Cuba is lower than that estimated in other lower-middle income countries
Access to drug therapy in children with epilepsy can be achieved in lower-middle income countries
Summary
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions affecting children worldwide. The prevalence of epilepsy in children ranges from 1.5–8 per thousand children. It has been estimated that worldwide 80–85% of individuals with epilepsy fail to receive treatment.[5,6,7,8] There are many possible reasons for this. The individual may not have seen a health professional to diagnose the epilepsy or the antiepileptic drug (AED) is too expensive or not readily available. Several AEDs (carbamazepine, diazepam, lorazepam, phenobarbital, phenytoin and sodium valproate) are on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines for Children.[9] The presence/absence of essential medicines for children in pharmacies has been used as a marker of the availability of essential medicines.[10]
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