Document Type
Article
Department
Family Medicine (East Africa)
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is common in developing countries, and it is often associated with parasitic infections. We investigated the relationship between exposure to parasitic infections, particularly multiple infections and active convulsive epilepsy (ACE), in five sites across sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods and Findings: A case-control design that matched on age and location was used. Blood samples were collected from 986 prevalent cases and 1,313 age-matched community controls and tested for presence of antibodies to Onchocerca volvulus, Toxocara canis, Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, Taenia solium and HIV. Exposure (seropositivity) to Onchocerca volvulus (OR = 1.98; 95%CI: 1.52-2.58, p
Conclusion: This study investigates how the degree of exposure to parasites and multiple parasitic infections are associated with ACE and may explain conflicting results obtained when only seropositivity is considered. The findings from this study should be further validated.
Publication (Name of Journal)
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Recommended Citation
Kamuyu, G.,
Bottomley, C.,
Mageto, J.,
Lowe, B.,
Wilkins, P.,
Noh, J. C.,
Nutman, T. B.,
Ngugi, A.,
Odhiambo, R.,
Wagner, R.,
Kakooza-Mwesige, A.,
Owusu-Agyei, S.,
Ae-Ngibise, K.,
Masanja, H.,
Osier, F.,
Odermatt, P.,
Newton, C.
(2014). Exposure to Multiple Parasites Is Associated with the Prevalence of Active Convulsive Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 8(5).
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_fam_med/25