Background: Onchocerciasis, an infectious disease due to Onchocerca volvulus, is endemic in the Centre region of Cameroon, and is thought to be risk factor of epilepsy. This study aimed to describe demographic, clinical, diagnostic and treatment characteristics of pediatric epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic rural setting in Centre region of Cameroon.
Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional health facility-based study in the rural locality of Ntui, in the Center Region of Cameroon, 107 consecutive children diagnosed with epilepsy based on clinical findings were recruited from December 2017 to April 2018. Data collected included sociodemographic data, personal and family history, clinical data, paraclinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.
Results: The mean age of children was 12.6 ± 3.8 years. Epilepsy-related family history (84.1%) and parental consanguinity (6.5%) were reported. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were predominant (82.2%), and clinical diagnosis was done in 96.3% of patients. Out of the 21 children examined by medical doctor, only 23.8% of them were consulted by pediatrician and 3.8% had electroencephalogram results. carbamazepine (57.5%) was the main anti-epilepsy drug administered as monotherapy. Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae were detected in 10.2% (5/49) of children, and 19.6% of them received ivermectin.
Conclusion: Four over 5 children with epilepsy in Ntui present GTC seizure with more than half of them been on a monotherapy with carbamazepine. About one over ten children with epilepsy was diagnosed with onchocerciasis. Two over 5 patients consulted a traditional healer.
Background: Onchocerciasis, an infectious disease due to Onchocerca volvulus, is endemic in the Centre region of Cameroon, and is thought to be risk factor of epilepsy. This study aimed to describe demographic, clinical, diagnostic and treatment characteristics of pediatric epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic rural setting in Centre region of Cameroon.
Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional health facility-based study in the rural locality of Ntui, in the Center Region of Cameroon, 107 consecutive children diagnosed with epilepsy based on clinical findings were recruited from December 2017 to April 2018. Data collected included sociodemographic data, personal and family history, clinical data, paraclinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.
Results: The mean age of children was 12.6 ± 3.8 years. Epilepsy-related family history (84.1%) and parental consanguinity (6.5%) were reported. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were predominant (82.2%), and clinical diagnosis was done in 96.3% of patients. Out of the 21 children examined by medical doctor, only 23.8% of them were consulted by pediatrician and 3.8% had electroencephalogram results. carbamazepine (57.5%) was the main anti-epilepsy drug administered as monotherapy. Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae were detected in 10.2% (5/49) of children, and 19.6% of them received ivermectin.
Conclusion: Four over 5 children with epilepsy in Ntui present GTC seizure with more than half of them been on a monotherapy with carbamazepine. About one over ten children with epilepsy was diagnosed with onchocerciasis. Two over 5 patients consulted a traditional healer.