Relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a matched case-control study in the Mbam Valley, Republic of Cameroon
Relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy: a matched case-control study in the Mbam Valley, Republic of Cameroon
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DOI：
10.1016/s0035-9203(02)90433-5
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发表时间：
2002-09-01
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Kamgno, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Boussinesq, M;Pion, SDS;Kamgno, J
Studies conducted during the past 10 years to investigate the possible relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy have led to contradictory results. In 1991-92 and 2001 we investigated 14 villages in central Cameroon to evaluate the relationship, at the community level, between the prevalence of epilepsy and the endemicity level of onchocerciasis. A case-control study compared the microfilarial loads of 72 epileptic and 72 non-epileptic individuals, matched according to sex, age, and village of residence. The prevalence of epilepsy and the community microfilarial load (CMFL) were closely related (P < 0.02), and the case-control study demonstrated that the microfilarial loads (microfilariae per snip) in the epileptic group (arithmetic mean = 288, median = 216) were significantly higher (P < 10(-4)) than in the control group (arithmetic mean = 141, median = 63). These results strongly support the existence of a link between onchocerciasis and epilepsy. The fact that such a relationship has not been found recently in some other West and Central African areas is probably due to the lowered endemicity of onchocerciasis following vector- and ivermectin-related control measures applied over the past 525 years. The socio-economic and demographic impact of onchocerciasis-related epilepsy should be evaluated, and taken into account as part of all onchocerciasis control programmes.
