• Awa Ba-Diop, Benoît Marin, Michel Druet-Cabanac, Edgard B Ngoungou, Charles R Newton, and Pierre-Marie Preux.
• INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France.
• Lancet Neurol. 2014 Oct 1; 13 (10): 102910441029-44.

AbstractEpilepsy is a common neurological disease in tropical countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous work on epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa has shown that many cases are severe, partly a result of some specific causes, that it carries a stigma, and that it is not adequately treated in many cases. Many studies on the epidemiology, aetiology, and management of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa have been reported in the past 10 years. The prevalence estimated from door-to-door studies is almost double that in Asia, Europe, and North America. The most commonly implicated risk factors are birth trauma, CNS infections, and traumatic brain injury. About 60% of patients with epilepsy receive no antiepileptic treatment, largely for economic and social reasons. Further epidemiological studies should be a priority to improve understanding of possible risk factors and thereby the prevention of epilepsy in Africa, and action should be taken to improve access to treatment.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

30 keywords...

hide…