Worldwide, it is estimated that 10•5 million children under 15 years have active epilepsy, representing about 25% of the global epilepsy population.6 Of the 3•5 million people who develop epilepsy annually, 40% are younger than 15 years, and more than 80% live in developing countries.6 Population-based studies on childhood-onset epilepsy6 indicate annual incidence rates of 61–124 per 100 000 in developing countries, and 41–50 per 100000 in developed countries.6 Incidence falls progressively from around 150 per 100 000 in the first year of life to 45–50 per 100000 after the age of 9 years.6 Cumulative incidence studies indicate that up to the age of 15 years, 1•0–1•7% of children will have at least one unprovoked seizure, and 0•7–0•8% repeated seizures.7,8 Frequency rates in Europe and North America vary from 3•6–6•5 per 1000, whereas African and Latin American studies report rates of 6•6–17 per 1000.6