Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study.
<h4>Background</h4>Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC) prevalence estimates in sub-Saharan Africa are still scarce but show important variation due to the population studied and different screening and diagnosis strategies used. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010675 |
| _version_ | 1798000426670358528 |
|---|---|
| author | Luise Keller Dominik Stelzle Veronika Schmidt Hélène Carabin Ann-Kristin Reinhold Claudius Keller Tamara M Welte Vivien Richter Action Amos Lindsay Boeckman Wendy Harrison Andrea S Winkler |
| author_facet | Luise Keller Dominik Stelzle Veronika Schmidt Hélène Carabin Ann-Kristin Reinhold Claudius Keller Tamara M Welte Vivien Richter Action Amos Lindsay Boeckman Wendy Harrison Andrea S Winkler |
| author_sort | Luise Keller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC) prevalence estimates in sub-Saharan Africa are still scarce but show important variation due to the population studied and different screening and diagnosis strategies used. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of epileptic seizures and epilepsy in the sampled population, and the proportion of NCC among people with epilepsy (PWE) in a large cross-sectional study in a rural district of southern Malawi.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a community-based door-to-door screening study for epileptic seizures in Balaka, Malawi between October and December 2012. Past epileptic seizures were reported through a 15-item questionnaire answered by at least one person per household generating five major criteria. People who screened positive were further examined by a neurologist to establish diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy were examined and offered Taenia solium cyst antigen and antibody serological tests, and a CT scan for the diagnosis of NCC.<h4>Results</h4>In total, screening information on 69,595 individuals was obtained for lifetime occurrence of epileptic seizures. 3,100 (4.5%) participants screened positive, of whom 1,913 (62%) could be followed-up and underwent further assessment. Lifetime prevalence was 3.0% (95% Bayesian credible interval [CI] 2.8 to 3.1%) and 1.2% (95%BCI 0.9 to 1.6%) for epileptic seizures and epilepsy, respectively. NCC prevalence among PWE was estimated to be 4.4% (95%BCI 0.8 to 8.5%). A diagnosis of epilepsy was ultimately reached for 455 participants.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The results of this large community-based study contribute to the evaluation and understanding of the burden of epilepsy in the population and of NCC among PWE in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:20:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe9f5bbd4d44474dbb7ac901cceb9dd7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:20:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe9f5bbd4d44474dbb7ac901cceb9dd72022-12-22T04:27:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352022-09-01169e001067510.1371/journal.pntd.0010675Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study.Luise KellerDominik StelzleVeronika SchmidtHélène CarabinAnn-Kristin ReinholdClaudius KellerTamara M WelteVivien RichterAction AmosLindsay BoeckmanWendy HarrisonAndrea S Winkler<h4>Background</h4>Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC) prevalence estimates in sub-Saharan Africa are still scarce but show important variation due to the population studied and different screening and diagnosis strategies used. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of epileptic seizures and epilepsy in the sampled population, and the proportion of NCC among people with epilepsy (PWE) in a large cross-sectional study in a rural district of southern Malawi.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a community-based door-to-door screening study for epileptic seizures in Balaka, Malawi between October and December 2012. Past epileptic seizures were reported through a 15-item questionnaire answered by at least one person per household generating five major criteria. People who screened positive were further examined by a neurologist to establish diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy were examined and offered Taenia solium cyst antigen and antibody serological tests, and a CT scan for the diagnosis of NCC.<h4>Results</h4>In total, screening information on 69,595 individuals was obtained for lifetime occurrence of epileptic seizures. 3,100 (4.5%) participants screened positive, of whom 1,913 (62%) could be followed-up and underwent further assessment. Lifetime prevalence was 3.0% (95% Bayesian credible interval [CI] 2.8 to 3.1%) and 1.2% (95%BCI 0.9 to 1.6%) for epileptic seizures and epilepsy, respectively. NCC prevalence among PWE was estimated to be 4.4% (95%BCI 0.8 to 8.5%). A diagnosis of epilepsy was ultimately reached for 455 participants.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The results of this large community-based study contribute to the evaluation and understanding of the burden of epilepsy in the population and of NCC among PWE in sub-Saharan Africa.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010675 |
| spellingShingle | Luise Keller Dominik Stelzle Veronika Schmidt Hélène Carabin Ann-Kristin Reinhold Claudius Keller Tamara M Welte Vivien Richter Action Amos Lindsay Boeckman Wendy Harrison Andrea S Winkler Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. |
| title_full | Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. |
| title_fullStr | Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. |
| title_short | Community-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study. |
| title_sort | community level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the balaka district of malawi a cross sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010675 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisekeller communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT dominikstelzle communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT veronikaschmidt communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT helenecarabin communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT annkristinreinhold communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT claudiuskeller communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT tamaramwelte communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT vivienrichter communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT actionamos communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT lindsayboeckman communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT wendyharrison communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy AT andreaswinkler communitylevelprevalenceofepilepsyandofneurocysticercosisamongpeoplewithepilepsyinthebalakadistrictofmalawiacrosssectionalstudy |