Epidemiology Commons^™

Exposure To Parasitic Infections Determines Features And Phenotypes Of Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Africa, Nelson K. Langat, Symon M. Kariuki, Gathoni Kamuyu, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kenneth Ae-Ngibise, Anne Wang'ombe, Anthony Ngugi, Honorati Masaja, Ryan G. Wagner

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Epilepsy affects 70 million people worldwide, 80% of whom are in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) contribute considerably to the burden of epilepsy in LMICs, but the nature and presentation of epilepsy following these infections is not fully understood. We examined if epilepsy foutcomes are associated with the exposure to parasitic infections.
Methods: This was a case-comparison study nested in a cross-sectional survey of people with active convulsive epilepsy, with cases as those exposed to parasitic infections, and comparison as those unexposed. Associations of exposure to parasites with clinical and electroencephalographic …

Prevalence And Mortality Of Epilepsies With Convulsive And Non-Convulsive Seizures In Kilifi, Kenya, Symon M. Kariuki, Anthony Ngugi, Martha Z. Kombe, Michael Kazungu, Eddie Chengo, Rachael Odhiambo, Amek Nyaguara, Brian G. Neville, Charles Rjc Newton

Population Health, East Africa

Objectives: The prevalence of all epilepsies (both convulsive and non-convulsive seizures) in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (LMIC), particularly sub-Saharan Africa is unknown. Under estimation of non-convulsive ep- ilepsies in data from these countries may lead to inadequate and sub-optimal allocation of resources to control and prevent epilepsy. We determined the prevalence of all types of epilepsies and compared the mortality be- tween convulsive seizures and non-convulsive seizures in a resource limited rural area in Kenya.

Methods: Trained clinicians identified cases of epilepsy in a randomly selected sample of 4,441 residents in the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System site …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Convulsive Status Epilepticus In Africans With Epilepsy, Symon M. Kariuki, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Ryan G. Wagner, Eddie Chengo, Steven White, Gathoni Kamuyu, Anthony Ngugi, Josemir W. Sander, Brian G.R. Neville, Charles R.J. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Objective: We conducted a community survey to estimate the prevalence and describe the features, risk factors, and consequences of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) among people with active convulsive epilepsy (ACE) identified in a multisite survey in Africa.

Methods: We obtained clinical histories of CSE and neurologic examination data among 1,196 people with ACE identified from a population of 379,166 people in 3 sites: Agincourt, South Africa; Iganga-Mayuge, Uganda; and Kilifi, Kenya. We performed serologic assessment for the presence of antibodies to parasitic infections and HIV and determined adherence to antiepileptic drugs. Consequences of CSE were assessed using a questionnaire. Logistic …

Prevalence And Risk Factors For Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Rural Northeast South Africa, Ryan G. Wagner, Anthony Ngugi, Rhian Twine, Christian Bottomley, Gathoni Kamuyu, F Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Myles D. Connor, Mark A. Collinson, Kathleen Kahn, Stephen Tollman, Charles R. Newton

Family Medicine, East Africa

Rationale: Epilepsy is among the most common neurological disorders worldwide. However,there are few large, population-based studies of the prevalence and risk factors for epilepsy in southern Africa.

Methods: From August 2008 to February 2009, as part of a multi-site study, we undertook a three-stage, population-based study, embedded within the Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system, to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors of active convulsiveepilepsy (ACE) in a rural South African population.

Results: The crude prevalence of ACE, after adjusting for non-response and the sensitivity of the screening method, was 7.0/1,000 individuals (95%CI 6.4—7.6) with significant geographic hetero-geneity across …