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

Colebunders, Robert, Siewe Fodjo, Joseph Nelson, Kamoen, Olivia, Amaral, Luís-Jorge, Hadermann, Amber, Trevisan, Chiara, Taylor, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3396-9275, Gauglitz, Julia, Hoerauf, Achim, Sato, Yasuaki, Polman, Katja, Basáñez, María-Gloria, Bhwana, Dan, Lakwo, Thomson, Abd-Elfarag, Gasim and Pion, Sébastien D (2024) 'Treatment and prevention of epilepsy in onchocerciasis-endemic areas is urgently needed.'. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, Vol 13, Issue 1, e5.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 885 Onchocerciasis WL Nervous System > WL 20 Research (General)
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-024-01174-8
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2024 12:57
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2024 12:57
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/23879

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