Effect of onchocerciasis elimination measures on the incidence of epilepsy in Maridi, South Sudan
This is a 3-year longitudinal, prospective, population-based study.
Abstract
High onchocerciasis transmission predisposes endemic communities to a high epilepsy burden. The 4·4% epilepsy prevalence documented in 2018 in Maridi, South Sudan, prompted the strengthening of onchocerciasis elimination measures: community-directed treatment with ivermectin and slash and clear vector control. This 3 year study assessed the effect of these interventions in eight sites near the Maridi dam.
The study confirms the epidemiological association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy, and that strengthening onchocerciasis elimination efforts can significantly decrease the incidence of epilepsy including nodding syndrome. It identifies risk factors for epilepsy as: living closer to the Maridi dam, being aged between 6 and 40 years, not taking ivermectin, and being male. However, given low coverage of community-directed treatment with ivermectin further efforts are needed to increase this, as well as to sustain blackfly control in Maridi.
This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme.
Citation
Stephen Raimon Jada and others. ‘Effect of onchocerciasis elimination measures on the incidence of epilepsy in Maridi, South Sudan: a 3-year longitudinal, prospective, population-based study’ The Lancet Global Health 2023: volume 11, issue 8, E1260-E1268, August