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Prevalence And Risk Factors For Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Kintampo, Ghana, Kenneth Ayuurebobi Ae-Ngibise, Bright Akpalu, Anthony Ngugi, Albert Akpalu, Francis Agbokey, Patrick Adjei, Damien Punguyire, Christian Bottomley, Charles Newton, Seth Owusu-Agyei

Family Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: epilepsy is common in sub-Saharan Africa, but there is little data in West Africa, to develop public health measures for epilepsy in this region.

Methods: we conducted a three-stage cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence and risk factors for active convulsive epilepsy (ACE), and estimated the treatment gap in Kintampo situated in the middle of Ghana.

Results: 249 people with ACE were identified in a study population of 113,796 individuals. After adjusting for attrition and the sensitivity of the screening method, the prevalence of ACE was 10.1/1000 (95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 9.5-10.7). In children aged <18 years, risk factors for ACE were: family history of seizures (OR=3.31; 95%CI: 1.83-5.96), abnormal delivery (OR=2.99; 95%CI: 1.07-8.34), problems after birth (OR=3.51; 95%CI: 1.02-12.06), and exposure to Onchocerca volvulus (OR=2.32; 95%CI: 1.12-4.78). In adults, a family history of seizures (OR=1.83; 95%CI: 1.05-3.20), never attended school (OR=11.68; 95%CI: 4.80-28.40), cassava consumption (OR=3.92; 95%CI: 1.14-13.54), pork consumption (OR=1.68; 95%CI: 1.09-2.58), history of snoring at least 3 nights per week (OR=3.40: 95%CI: 1.56-7.41), exposure to Toxoplasma gondii (OR=1.99; 95%CI: 1.15-3.45) and Onchocerca volvulus (OR=2.09: 95%CI: 1.29-3.40) were significant risk factors for the development of ACE. The self-reported treatment gap was 86.9% (95%CI: 83.5%-90.3%).

Conclusion: ACE is common …

Exposure To Multiple Parasites Is Associated With The Prevalence Of Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Sub-Saharan Africa, Gathoni Kamuyu, Christian Bottomley, James Mageto, Brett Lowe, Patricia Wilkins, John C. Noh, Thomas B. Nutman, Anthony Ngugi, Rachael Odhiambo, Ryan Wagner, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kenneth Ae-Ngibise, Honorati Masanja, Faith Osier, Peter Odermatt, Charles Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Background: Epilepsy is common in developing countries, and it is often associated with parasitic infections. We investigated the relationship between exposure to parasitic infections, particularly multiple infections and active convulsive epilepsy (ACE), in five sites across sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods and Findings: A case-control design that matched on age and location was used. Blood samples were collected from 986 prevalent cases and 1,313 age-matched community controls and tested for presence of antibodies to Onchocerca volvulus, Toxocara canis, Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, Taenia solium and HIV. Exposure (seropositivity) to Onchocerca volvulus (OR = 1.98; 95%CI: 1.52-2.58, p

Conclusion: This study investigates how …