Article

Management of epilepsy patients in Batamariba district, Togo.

Neurology Department, University Teaching Hospital, Lomé, Togo.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica (impact factor: 2.47). 11/2007; 116(4):211-6. DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00871.x pp.211-6
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT To describe the feasibility of managing epilepsy in a rural setting in a developing country.
The project comprised four phases. After a study of the perception of epilepsy, we conducted a sensitization campaign in November 2001. The third phase was a survey, to detect epilepsy patients, in which 6249 persons were asked to complete a questionnaire. Persons with epilepsy were then examined, treated, mainly with phenobarbital, and followed up.
The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated to be 15.7 per thousand. Ninety-two patients took antiepileptic drugs from 1 February 2002. By November 2005, 92.7% of all treated patients had achieved complete suppression of seizures, and 7.3% had reduced seizure frequency.
Despite the stigma attached to epilepsy in many developing countries, it can be controlled by relatively simple measures. At present, 601 epilepsy patients are being followed up at the Nadoba health centre, where epilepsy is now the second commonest disease.

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Keywords

601 epilepsy patients
 
antiepileptic drugs
 
complete
 
complete suppression
 
developing countries
 
developing country
 
epilepsy
 
epilepsy patients
 
Nadoba health centre
 
patients
 
rural
 
second commonest disease
 
seizure frequency
 
sensitization campaign
 

A A K Balogou