SynthesisInternational health2020
Meta-analysis of epilepsy prevalence in West Africa and its relationship with onchocerciasis endemicity and control.
Synthesis in International health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Factors influencing vector control for onchocerciasis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence and associated factors of depression among adult patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2025.BMC psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Onchocerciasis overview: pathogenesis, clinical spectrum, and therapeutic challenges of a neglected tropical disease.Frontiers in parasitology · 2026Review
- Epidemiology of epilepsy in Wulu County, an onchocerciasis-endemic area in South Sudan.Heliyon · 2024Article
- The Spectrum of Ocular Diseases in the Onchocerciasis-Endemic Focus of Raga in South Sudan.Research and reports in tropical medicine · 2024Article
- Evidence-based indications for ivermectin in parasitic diseases: An integrated approach to context and challenges in Peru.Parasite epidemiology and control · 2023Review
- Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in Maridi, South Sudan: Modelling and exploring the impact of control measures against river blindness.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Onchocerciasis in the Ntui Health District of Cameroon: epidemiological, entomological and parasitological findings in relation to elimination prospects.Parasites & vectors · 2022Article
- Article
- In pursuit of a cure: The plural therapeutic landscape of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in Cameroon - A mixed methods study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Progress towards onchocerciasis elimination in Côte d'Ivoire: A geospatial modelling study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Onchocerca volvulus and epilepsy: A comprehensive review using the Bradford Hill criteria for causation.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Review
- Nodding syndrome, many questions remain but we can prevent it by eliminating onchocerciasis.Brain communications · 2021Article
- Voltage Gated Sodium Channel Genes in Epilepsy: Mutations, Functional Studies, and Treatment Dimensions.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Review
- The Role of the Maridi Dam in Causing an Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy Epidemic in Maridi, South Sudan: An Epidemiological, Sociological, and Entomological Study.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy has been reported in onchocerciasis-endemic regions in Central and East Africa. There is compelling epidemiological evidence suggesting that this high burden is caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). We hypothesized that OAE had also occured in West African onchocerciasis foci.
methodsWe searched PubMed, the African Journals Online platform and grey literature for population-based epilepsy studies in West African countries. Epilepsy and onchocerciasis prevalence data were extracted. The pre-control onchocerciasis endemicity in the study sites was estimated from historical data of onchocerciasis control programmes. The prevalence of epilepsy in different sites was analysed, taking into account onchocerciasis endemicity and the duration of control.
resultsThe pooled prevalence of epilepsy in the West African study sites was 13.14 per 1000 (95% confidence interval 11.28-15.00). Higher pre-control endemicity and a shorter duration of onchocerciasis control were both associated with increased epilepsy prevalence (p<0.001). Two studies in Ivory Coast that provided detailed descriptions of persons with epilepsy in onchocerciasis-endemic settings revealed that most of them had features of OAE (73.7% and 83.3%, respectively).
conclusionsOur findings suggest that before and during the early years of implementing onchocerciasis control in West Africa, high onchocerciasis endemicity resulted in a high prevalence of OAE and that subsequent control efforts significantly reduced the prevalence of OAE.
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