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- Kamuyu, Gathoni, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to Multiple Parasites Is Associated with the Prevalence of Active Convulsive Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1935-2727 .- 1935-2735. ; 8:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 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<0.001), Toxocara canis (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.23-1.87, p<0.001), Toxoplasma gondii (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.56, p=0.018) and higher antibody levels (top tertile) to Toxocara canis (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.30-2.24, p<0.001) were associated with an increased prevalence of ACE. Exposure to multiple infections was common (73.8% of cases and 65.5% of controls had been exposed to two or more infections), and for T. gondii and O. volvulus co-infection, their combined effect on the prevalence of ACE, as determined by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), was more than additive (T. gondii and O. volvulus, RERI = 1.19). The prevalence of T. solium antibodies was low (2.8% of cases and 2.2% of controls) and was not associated with ACE in the study areas. Conclusion: This study investigates how the degree of exposure to parasites and multiple parasitic infections are associated with ACE and may explain conflicting results obtained when only seropositivity is considered. The findings from this study should be further validated.
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| 2. |
- Kariuki, Symon M., et al.
(författare)
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Electroencephalographic features of convulsive epilepsy in Africa : A multicentre study of prevalence, pattern and associated factors
- 2016
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Ingår i: Clinical Neurophysiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1388-2457 .- 1872-8952. ; 127:2, s. 1099-1107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: We investigated the prevalence and pattern of electroencephalographic (EEG) features of epilepsy and the associated factors in Africans with active convulsive epilepsy (ACE).Methods: We characterized electroencephalographic features and determined associated factors in a sample of people with ACE in five African sites. Mixed-effects modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with abnormal EEGs.Results: Recordings were performed on 1426 people of whom 751 (53%) had abnormal EEGs, being an adjusted prevalence of 2.7 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.5–2.9) per 1000. 52% of the abnormal EEG had focal features (75% with temporal lobeinvolvement). The frequency and pattern of changes differed with site. Abnormal EEGs were associated with adverse perinatal events (risk ratio (RR) = 1.19 (95% CI, 1.07–1.33)), cognitive impairments (RR = 1.50 (95% CI, 1.30–1.73)), use of anti-epilepticdrugs (RR = 1.25 (95% CI, 1.05–1.49)), focal seizures (RR = 1.09 (95% CI, 1.00–1.19)) and seizure frequency (RR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.10–1.26) for daily seizures; RR = 1.22 (95% CI, 1.10–1.35) for weekly seizures and RR = 1.15 (95% CI, 1.03–1.28) for monthly seizures)).Conclusions: EEG abnormalities are common in Africans with epilepsy and are associated with preventable risk factors.Significance: EEG is helpful in identifying focal epilepsy in Africa, where timing of focal aetiologies is problematic and there is a lack of neuroimaging services.
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| 3. |
- Ngugi, Anthony K., et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa and associated risk factors : cross-sectional and case-control studies
- 2013
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Ingår i: Lancet Neurology. - 1474-4422 .- 1474-4465. ; 12:3, s. 253-263
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The prevalence of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa seems to be higher than in other parts of the world, but estimates vary substantially for unknown reasons. We assessed the prevalence and risk factors of active convulsive epilepsy across five centres in this region. Methods We did large population-based cross-sectional and case-control studies in five Health and Demographic Surveillance System centres: Kilifi, Kenya (Dec 3, 2007-July 31, 2008); Agincourt, South Africa (Aug 4, 2008-Feb 27, 2009); Iganga-Mayuge, Uganda (Feb 2, 2009-Oct 30, 2009); Ifakara, Tanzania (May 4, 2009-Dec 31, 2009); and Kintampo, Ghana (Aug 2, 2010-April 29, 2011). We used a three-stage screening process to identify people with active convulsive epilepsy. Prevalence was estimated as the ratio of confirmed cases to the population screened and was adjusted for sensitivity and attrition between stages. For each case, an age-matched control individual was randomly selected from the relevant centre's census database. Fieldworkers masked to the status of the person they were interviewing administered questionnaires to individuals with active convulsive epilepsy and control individuals to assess sociodemographic variables and historical risk factors (perinatal events, head injuries, and diet). Blood samples were taken from a randomly selected subgroup of 300 participants with epilepsy and 300 control individuals from each centre and were screened for antibodies to Toxocara canis, Toxoplasma gondii, Onchocerca volvulus, Plasmodium falciparum, Taenia solium, and HIV. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) with logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, education, employment, and marital status. Results 586 607 residents in the study areas were screened in stage one, of whom 1711 were diagnosed as having active convulsive epilepsy. Prevalence adjusted for attrition and sensitivity varied between sites: 7.8 per 1000 people (95% CI 7.5-8.2) in Kilifi, 7.0 (6.2-7.4) in Agincourt, 10.3 (9.5-11.1) in Iganga-Mayuge, 14.8 (13.8-15.4) in Ifakara, and 10.1 (9.5-10.7) in Kintampo. The 1711 individuals with the disorder and 2032 control individuals were given questionnaires. In children (aged <18 years), the greatest relative increases in prevalence were associated with difficulties feeding, crying, or breathing after birth (OR 10.23, 95% CI 5 85-1788; p<0.0001); abnormal antenatal periods (2.15, 1.53-3.02; p<0.0001); and head injury (1.97, 1.28-3.03; p=0.002). In adults (aged >= 18 years), the disorder was significantly associated with admission to hospital with malaria or fever (2.28, 1.06-4.92; p=0.036), exposure to T canis (1.74, 1.27-2.40; p=0.0006), exposure to T gondii (1.39, 1.05-1.84; p=0.021), and exposure to 0 volvulus (2.23, 1.56-3.19; p<0.0001). Hypertension (2.13, 1.08-4.20; p=0.029) and exposure to T solium (7.03, 2.06-24.00; p=0.002) were risk factors for adult-onset disease. Interpretation The prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy varies in sub-Saharan Africa and that the variation is probably a result of differences in risk factors. Programmes to control parasitic diseases and interventions to improve antenatal and perinatal care could substantially reduce the prevalence of epilepsy in this region.
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