Journal of the Neurological Sciences 165 (1999) 31–35 A case control study and one year follow-up of registered epilepsy cases in a resettlement colony of North India, a developing tropical country a, b a a a * I.M.S. Sawhney , Amarjeet Singh , Parminder Kaur , Gunmala Suri , J.S. Chopra a Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India b Department of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India Received 23 November 1998; accepted 2 March 1999 Abstract A population-based case control study and monthly follow-up of 121 registered epilepsy cases was conducted during 1995–1997 in a resettlement colony of Chandigarh, India. History of various tentative risk factors, e.g. trauma, febrile seizures, family history of seizures, alcohol intake and other possible causes was elicited. An age- and sex-matched control was selected from the neighbouring families for each case. A discordant pair analysis was done for matched case / controls. History of head injury, febrile seizures and developmental delay was observed exclusively in cases (none present in controls). Odds for epilepsy were higher among people who had positive family 2 history (O.R.52.1, X 55.5, C.I.51.1–4.3). All cases were followed up and interviewed for history of seizures and drug intake. Fourteen cases could not be followed up completely. Ninety-four (88%) of the remaining 107 cases did not have any seizures during the follow-up. Of them, 70 (75%) patients were not on medication, 13 patients were on phenytoin and 11 patients received phenobarbitone. Thirteen cases reported seizures during the follow-up. Four patients out of the latter had mental retardation and were not on medication. Cumulative incidence of epilepsy was estimated to be 0.6 / 1000 person-year exposure.  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Epilepsy; Neuroepidemiology; Follow-up; Case control study; Longitudinal study; Epidemiology; Seizures 1. Introduction cases of epilepsy was conducted in a resettlement colony in North India to provide such data. Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder prevalent worldwide to a varying degree [1]. Following the research initiative on epilepsy by the WHO in the late 1970s and 2. Material and methods early 1980s there has been an upsurge in population-based studies all over the world [2–5]. A few population-based 2.1. Training epidemiological studies have been conducted in India [6– 10]. Baseline epidemiological data have been generated. A female social worker was trained in interviewing However, case control study and follow-up of the epilepsy techniques. She was given a short-term intensive training cases did not constitute a part of many such studies. in Neurology OPD in the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Information on natural history, determinants of epilepsy, Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh to and drug therapy is lacking in population-based Indian familiarize her with the terminology used in neurology. studies. A case-control study and follow-up of registered 2.2. Study area *Corresponding author. Corresponding address: Morrison Hospital, The study was conducted in Dadu Majra Colony—a Swansea SA6 6NL, Wales, UK. Tel.: 144-1792-703851; fax: 144-1792- 703632. resettlement colony of Union Territory, Chandigarh. The 0022-510X / 99 / $ – see front matter  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S0022-510X(99)00069-6