02741nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653002400079653005700103100001300160700001400173700001400187700001400201700001500215700001300230700001300243700001400256700001100270700001500281700001500296700001500311700001600326245015400342856009900496300001300595490000700608520179800615022001402413       2022                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health1 aKeller L1 aStelzle D1 aSchmidt V1 aCarabin H1 aReinhold A1 aKeller C1 aWelte TM1 aRichter V1 aAmos A1 aBoeckman L1 aHarrison W1 aWinkler AS1 aNicoletti A00aCommunity-level prevalence of epilepsy and of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in the Balaka district of Malawi: A cross-sectional study  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010675&type=printable  ae00106750 v163 a<p>Background: 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.</p>

<p>Methods: 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.</p>

<p>Results: 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.</p>

<p>Conclusion: 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.</p>
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