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Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders among children, with a higher incidence in the first year of life. An accurate epilepsy diagnosis is essential for a proper treatment. Objectives: To assess the rates of childhood deaths from epilepsy in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive documentary study based on data from 2010 to 2019 in Brazil. Methods: Evaluating data provided by DATASUS, the information department of Brazil’s publicly funded health care system (SUS). Results: 238 infant deaths due to epilepsy were documented in Brazil during the studied period. The Southeast region had the highest rates, representing 31.51% of the total deaths, followed by the Northeast region, 29.83%, the South region, 18.91%, and the North region, 11.34%. Considering the population in each region, the North had the highest relative rates, followed by the Midwest, Northeast, South and Southeast regions. In the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 the highest death rates were documented, a total of 93 (39.08%). Regarding gender, boys had more deaths, 142 (59.66%) and girls 96 (40.34%). The most affected color / race was white, 133 deaths (55.88%), followed by brown, 79 (33.19%). Blacks and Indians registered the lowest rates, 2.52% each. Conclusion: A predominance of infant deaths due to epilepsy is noticed in the North, which points to the need for greater investment in health in this region, since there was a progressive increase in mortality. It was also found that the male gender and white color are risk factors for complications of the disease. |
