Epidemiology, causes, and treatment of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Awa Ba-Diop (1) , Benoît Marin (1, 2, 3) , Michel Druet-Cabanac (1, 4) , Edgard Brice Ngoungou (1) , Charles R Newton , Pierre-Marie Preux (1, 2, 3)

1 NET - Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale
2 SIME - Service de l'Information Médicale et de l'Évaluation [CHU Limoges]
3 Laboratoire de Biostatistique et d'Informatique Médicale
4 Service de Santé au Travail [CHU Limoges]

Epilepsy 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.

Domaines: Santé publique et épidémiologie

Awa Ba-Diop, Benoît Marin, Michel Druet-Cabanac, Edgard Brice Ngoungou, Charles R Newton, et al.. Epidemiology, causes, and treatment of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa.. The Lancet Neurology, 2014, 13 (10), pp.1029-1044. ⟨hal-01092288⟩