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      Epidemiology, causes, and treatment of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa

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          Abstract

          Epilepsy is a common neurological disease in tropical countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous work on epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa has shown that many cases are severe, partly a result of some specific causes, that it carries a stigma, and that it is not adequately treated in many cases. Many studies on the epidemiology, aetiology, and management of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa have been reported in the past 10 years. The prevalence estimated from door-to-door studies is almost double that in Asia, Europe, and North America. The most commonly implicated risk factors are birth trauma, CNS infections, and traumatic brain injury. About 60% of patients with epilepsy receive no antiepileptic treatment, largely for economic and social reasons. Further epidemiological studies should be a priority to improve understanding of possible risk factors and thereby the prevention of epilepsy in Africa, and action should be taken to improve access to treatment.

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          Author and article information

          Contributors
          Journal
          101139309
          30413
          Lancet Neurol
          Lancet Neurol
          The Lancet. Neurology
          1474-4422
          1474-4465
          29 June 2017
          October 2014
          05 July 2017
          : 13
          : 10
          : 1029-1044
          Affiliations
          INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France
          INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; CEBIMER: Center of Epidemiology, Biostatitics, and Research Methodology, CHU Limoges, France
          INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France
          INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; Unit of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, University of Health Sciences, Libreville, Gabon
          KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Programme, Centre for Geographical Medicine, Kilifi, Kenya; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
          INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, and Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Limoges, Limoges, France; CEBIMER: Center of Epidemiology, Biostatitics, and Research Methodology, CHU Limoges, France
          Author notes
          Correspondence to: Prof Pierre-Marie Preux, Institut de Neurologie Tropicale, Inserm U1094, Faculté de Médecine, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France pierre-marie.preux@ 123456unilim.fr
          Article
          PMC5497080 PMC5497080 5497080 ems73261
          10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70114-0
          5497080
          25231525
          69c1cf8b-0cae-4d48-bc0d-6b69423dd7ea
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