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Title
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Epilepsy in the Sanaga-Mbam valley, an onchocerciasis-endemic region in Cameroon : electroclinical and neuropsychological findings
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objective Epilepsy is highly prevalent in onchocerciasis-endemic African regions. Various types of epilepsy have been described in such regions based essentially on clinical characteristics. Methods We conducted a clinical, neurophysiological and neuropsychological study of epilepsy in the onchocerciasis-endemic region of Ntui, Sanaga-Mbam area, Cameroon. Results One hundred and eighty-seven persons with presumed epilepsy were recruited in an epilepsy clinic in Ntui. Epilepsy was clinically confirmed in 144 (79%) subjects, 69 (46.0%) of them met the onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) criteria, and 51 of 106 tested (48.1%) presented Ov16 antibodies. Electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded in 91 participants, of which 36 (33%) were considered abnormal and 27 of 36 (75%) revealed bifrontotemporal spike and slow waves. Concerning the neuropsychological evaluation, 29% showed severe global cognitive impairment, 28% severe episodic memory impairment, and 66% severe frontal cognitive impairment. Half of the persons with epilepsy (PWE) suffered from a mental disorder. Significance In PWE in the Sanaga-Mbam area in Cameroon, we observed EEG patterns similar to those described among persons with OAE, including nodding syndrome in other onchocerciasis-endemic areas. Most PWE presented with severe cognitive impairment. We hypothesize that onchocerciasis may induce neurocognitive disorders and epilepsy via a mechanism that involves mainly the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Epilepsia Open. - [S.l.]
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Publication
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Hoboken
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Wiley
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2021
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ISSN
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2470-9239
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DOI
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10.1002/EPI4.12510
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Volume/pages
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6
:3
(2021)
, p. 513-527
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ISI
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000683499400001
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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