Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38212805›Full record

ArticleInfectious diseases of poverty2024

Treatment and prevention of epilepsy in onchocerciasis-endemic areas is urgently needed.

Robert Colebunders, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Olivia Kamoen, Luís-Jorge Amaral, Amber Hadermann, Chiara Trevisan, Mark J Taylor, Julia Gauglitz, Achim Hoerauf, Yasuaki Sato and 6 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious diseases of poverty, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors at 9 institutions in 7 countries.

Robert ColebundersGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. robert.colebunders@uantwerpen.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1919-1340
Joseph Nelson Siewe FodjoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Olivia KamoenDepartment of Neurology, Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis, Lier, Belgium.
Luís-Jorge AmaralGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Amber HadermannGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Chiara TrevisanDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Mark J TaylorLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
Julia GauglitzDepartment of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Achim HoeraufInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Yasuaki SatoSchool of Global Humanities and Social Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Katja PolmanDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
María-Gloria BasáñezMRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Dan BhwanaNational Institute for Medical Research, Tanga, Tanzania.
Thomson LakwoVector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Gasim Abd-ElfaragSchool of Public Health, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan.
Sébastien D PionFrench National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Montpellier, France.
University of Antwerp · BEInstituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde · BELiverpool School of Tropical Medicine · GBLondon Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research · GBMinistry of Health · UGNagasaki University · JPNational Institute for Medical Research · TZUniversity Hospital Bonn · DEUniversity of Juba · SS

Funding

FWO 1296723NFWO G0A0522NMedical Research Council MR/R015600/1Medical Research Council MR/X020258/1MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis MR/X020258/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is increasing epidemiological evidence supporting the association between onchocerciasis and seizures, reinforcing the concept of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). The aim of this paper is to provide an update on the new knowledge about OAE and to propose recommendations to the World Health Organization how to address this public health problem. MAIN TEXT: During the 2nd International Workshop on OAE held on 19-21 September, 2023, in Antwerp, Belgium, participants recognised OAE as a substantial yet neglected public health problem, particularly in areas of sub-Saharan Africa where onchocerciasis remains hyperendemic. Evidence from prospective population-based studies suggest that strengthening onchocerciasis elimination efforts leads to a significant reduction of OAE incidence. There is a need to validate an OAE case definition to estimate the burden of disease and identify onchocerciasis-endemic areas requiring intensification of onchocerciasis elimination programmes and integration of epilepsy care. It is expected that raising awareness about OAE will boost the population uptake of ivermectin. The implementation of a community-based epilepsy treatment programme offering free anti-seizure medications (ASMs) has shown high effectiveness in reducing the frequency of seizures and improving the overall quality of life of people with epilepsy.

conclusionsTo reduce OAE burden, enhanced collaboration between onchocerciasis and mental health programmes at community, national, and international levels is required. Urgent efforts are needed to ensure the uninterrupted provision of free ASMs in onchocerciasis-endemic areas. Furthermore, OAE should be included in the quantification of the onchocerciasis disease burden.

Indexed as

EpilepsyOnchocerciasisHumansIvermectinPrevalenceProspective StudiesQuality of LifeIvermectinBurden of diseaseChildrenEpilepsyIvermectinMorbidityNodding syndromeOnchocerciasisPolicyPreventionTreatment

Identifiers

PMID38212805
PMCPMC10785461
OpenAlexW4390766328

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.