High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey
In June 2020, a door-to-door household survey was conducted in Mvolo County, an onchocerciasis-endemic area in South Sudan. A total of 2357 households containing 15,699 individuals agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 5046 (32.1%, 95% CI: 31.4–32.9%) had skin itching and 445 (2.8%, 95% CI:...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI
2021
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| _version_ | 1797071589902123008 |
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| author | Raimon, S Dusabimana, A Abd-Elfarag, G Okaro, S Carter, JY Newton, CR Logora, MY Colebunders, R |
| author_facet | Raimon, S Dusabimana, A Abd-Elfarag, G Okaro, S Carter, JY Newton, CR Logora, MY Colebunders, R |
| author_sort | Raimon, S |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | In June 2020, a door-to-door household survey was conducted in Mvolo County, an onchocerciasis-endemic area in South Sudan. A total of 2357 households containing 15,699 individuals agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 5046 (32.1%, 95% CI: 31.4–32.9%) had skin itching and 445 (2.8%, 95% CI: 2.6–3.1%) were blind. An epilepsy screening questionnaire identified 813 (5.1%) persons suspected of having epilepsy. Of them, 804 (98.9%) were seen by a medical doctor, and in 798 (98.1%) the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed. The overall epilepsy prevalence was 50.8/1000 (95% CI: 47.6–54.4/1000), while the prevalence of nodding syndrome was 22.4/1000 (95% CI: 20.1–24.9/1000). Younger age, being male, skin itching, blindness, and living in a neighbourhood or village close to the Naam River were risk factors for epilepsy. The annual incidence of epilepsy was 82.8/100,000 (95% CI: 44.1–141.6/100,000). Among children 7–9 years old without epilepsy, 34% were Ov16 seropositive, suggesting high ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission, but only 41.9% of them took ivermectin during the last mass distribution. In conclusion, a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy was observed in Mvolo, South Sudan. Strengthening of the onchocerciasis elimination programme is urgently needed in order to prevent epilepsy in this region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:55:31Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:603a86c2-13b3-43da-bb71-cfdd729c024e |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:55:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:603a86c2-13b3-43da-bb71-cfdd729c024e2022-03-26T17:52:09ZHigh prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door surveyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:603a86c2-13b3-43da-bb71-cfdd729c024eEnglishSymplectic ElementsMDPI2021Raimon, SDusabimana, AAbd-Elfarag, GOkaro, SCarter, JYNewton, CRLogora, MYColebunders, RIn June 2020, a door-to-door household survey was conducted in Mvolo County, an onchocerciasis-endemic area in South Sudan. A total of 2357 households containing 15,699 individuals agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 5046 (32.1%, 95% CI: 31.4–32.9%) had skin itching and 445 (2.8%, 95% CI: 2.6–3.1%) were blind. An epilepsy screening questionnaire identified 813 (5.1%) persons suspected of having epilepsy. Of them, 804 (98.9%) were seen by a medical doctor, and in 798 (98.1%) the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed. The overall epilepsy prevalence was 50.8/1000 (95% CI: 47.6–54.4/1000), while the prevalence of nodding syndrome was 22.4/1000 (95% CI: 20.1–24.9/1000). Younger age, being male, skin itching, blindness, and living in a neighbourhood or village close to the Naam River were risk factors for epilepsy. The annual incidence of epilepsy was 82.8/100,000 (95% CI: 44.1–141.6/100,000). Among children 7–9 years old without epilepsy, 34% were Ov16 seropositive, suggesting high ongoing Onchocerca volvulus transmission, but only 41.9% of them took ivermectin during the last mass distribution. In conclusion, a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy was observed in Mvolo, South Sudan. Strengthening of the onchocerciasis elimination programme is urgently needed in order to prevent epilepsy in this region. |
| spellingShingle | Raimon, S Dusabimana, A Abd-Elfarag, G Okaro, S Carter, JY Newton, CR Logora, MY Colebunders, R High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title | High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title_full | High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title_fullStr | High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title_short | High prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Mvolo County, South Sudan: A door-to-door survey |
| title_sort | high prevalence of epilepsy in an onchocerciasis endemic area in mvolo county south sudan a door to door survey |
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