Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39309807›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2024

Epidemiology of epilepsy in Wulu County, an onchocerciasis-endemic area in South Sudan.

Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Stephen Raimon Jada, Abraham Taban, John Bebe, Yak Yak Bol, Jane Y Carter, Robert Colebunders

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
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

7 authors.

Joseph Nelson Siewe FodjoGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Stephen Raimon JadaAmref Health Africa, Juba, South Sudan.
Abraham TabanWulu County Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, South Sudan.
John BebeAmref Health Africa, Juba, South Sudan.
Yak Yak BolNeglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan.
Jane Y CarterAmref Health Africa Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Robert ColebundersGlobal Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: We sought to investigate the epidemiology of epilepsy in Wulu County (Lakes State, South Sudan), and document the onchocerciasis transmission status in the study villages. Methods: In February 2024, a community-based epilepsy study was conducted Wulu County and participants were surveyed via a door-to-door approach in five villages, namely: Kombi, Makundi Center, Tonjo, War-Pac, and Woko. All village residents were asked about ivermectin intake during the 2023 round of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). In addition, children aged 3-9 years were tested for Ov16 antibodies using a rapid diagnostic test. Epilepsy diagnosis in screened individuals was confirmed by a physician. Results: We surveyed 1355 persons in the five study sites. The overall CDTI coverage in 2023 was 67.4 %. Fifty-five persons with epilepsy (PWE) were identified (prevalence 4.1 %) and a history of nodding seizures was noted in 11/55 (20 %) PWE. The mean age of PWE was 21.5 ± 9.6 years, with 32 (58.2 %) being males. Epilepsy onset frequently occurred under 5 years of age (38.6 % of cases). In two PWE, seizure onset occurred during the past 12 months (annual incidence: 147.6 per 100,000 persons). Twenty-nine PWE (52.7 %) were taking anti-seizure medicines, but only five were taking them daily. Overall, Ov16 seroprevalence in children aged 3-9 years (n = 119) was 15.1 % and differed across villages, peaking at 30.9 % in Woko village where epilepsy prevalence was also highest (7.1 %). Of the 35 recorded deaths during the past two years, 9 (25.7 %) occurred in PWE. Annual estimates for epilepsy mortality and fatality rates were 323.7 per 100,000 persons and 7031.3 per 100,000 PWE, respectively. Conclusion: High epilepsy prevalence was found in Wulu, particularly in villages with persistent onchocerciasis transmission. Frequent epilepsy onset among under-fives suggests that perinatal/early childhood etiologies are common. Appropriate measures should be instituted to prevent and treat epilepsy in Wulu villages.

Indexed as

EpilepsyIvermectinOnchocerciasisOv16South SudanWulu

Identifiers

PMID39309807
PMCPMC11415701

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