Medical Treatment of Epilepsy in Resource-Poor Countries

The World Health Organization estimates that epilepsy causes 6.4 million disability adjusted life-years and 1.32 million years of life lost worldwide, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 43 million people, of whom 80% live in low and middle income countries (LAMICs). Available data exist for over 25 different medications used in the treatment of epilepsy with more than half having been developed in the past two decades. However, in most LAMICs only the standard antiepileptic drugs and the benzodiazepines are readily available. Epilepsy service organization in LAMICs is hampered for the various reasons and no single approach is suitable for every LAMIC. An attempt to construct a sustainable programme for epilepsy care in LAMICs should first identify the local, regional and national burden of the disease. The medical management of the epilepsies in LAMICs is no different in some respects from that in high-income countries.