Epilepsy in Latin America. Technical document based on presentations at the international workshop held in Santiago, Chile, in August 2013, plus subsequent contributions

Abstract

[Introduction] Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of great importance in terms of its impact on society and health in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It can be clinically diagnosed without specialized expertise, e.g., in primary health care facilities. The great majority of people with epilepsy can lead normal lives if they receive appropriate treatment. However, various factors limit and impede treatment. These include lack of information, stigmatization, and insufficient access to health services. This technical document includes the principal presentations made at the workshop in Chile, updated and revised by their authors and edited by the workshop editorial group. Other more recent contributions have also been included. In 2015, there was an opportunity to meet again, this time in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to follow up on the process, analyze advances made, and discuss pending issues and new challenges. A summary of that event appears in the annexes to this document.