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

作　　者：Robert Colebunders Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo Olivia Kamoen Luis-Jorge Amaral Amber Hadermann Chiara Trevisan Mark J.Taylor Julia Gauglitz Achim Hoerauf Yasuaki Sato Katja Polman Maria-Gloria Basanez Dan Bhwana Thomson Lakwo Gasim Abd-Elfarag Sebastien D.Pion 

机构地区：[1]Global Health Institute,University of Antwerp,Antwerp,Belgium [2]Department of Neurology,Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis,Lier,Belgium [3]Department of Public Health,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium [4]Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine,Liverpool,UK [5]Department of Computer Science,University of Antwerp,Antwerp,Belgium [6]Institute of Medical Microbiology,Immunology and Parasitology,University Hospital Bonn,Bonn,Germany [7]German Center for Infection Research(DZIF),Partner Site Bonn-Cologne,Bonn,Germany [8]School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences,Nagasaki University,Nagasaki,Japan [9]MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and London Centre for Neglected TropicalDisease Research,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Imperial College London,London,UK [10]National Institute for Medical Research,Tanga,Tanzania [11]Vector Control Division,Ministry of Health,Kampala,Uganda [12]School of Public Health,University of Juba,Juba,South Sudan [13]Access for Humanity,Juba,South Sudan [14]French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development,Montpellier,France

出　　处：《Infectious Diseases of Poverty》2024年第1期85-89,共5页贫困所致传染病（英文）

基　　金：Funding for the 2nd International workshop on OAE was provided by the Research Foundation Flanders(FWO),grant number G0A0522N,the University of Antwerp,and the German Center for Infection Research(DZIF);JNSF received funding from the Research Foundation Flanders(FWO),grant number:1296723N;M-GB acknowledges funding from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis(MR/X020258/1),funded by the UK Medical Research Council(MRC);This UK-funded award is carried out in the frame of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking.

摘　　要：Background There 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.Conclusions To 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.

关 键 词：ONCHOCERCIASIS Morbidity Burden of disease PREVENTION IVERMECTIN EPILEPSY Nodding syndrome TREATMENT Children Policy 

分 类 号：R532.15[医药卫生—内科学]