Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Background. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, but the majority of epilepsy patients in sub-Saharan countries do not receive appropriate treatment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in Lubumbashi, very few epidemiological studies on epilepsy have emerged. This study aims to analyze demographic characteristics, semiology of epileptic seizures, and their etiologies in patients followed in hospital. Methods. This is a prospective descriptive study that enrolled 177 epileptic patients who performed a neurological consultation at the Centre Médical du Centre Ville (CMDC) in Lubumbashi (DRC) from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Results. The mean age of the patients was 20.0 years (range: 5 months and 86 years). The male sex was predominant (57.1%). The mean age at the seizure onset was 13.1 years, and the mean duration between onset of seizures and consultation was 83.5 months. The family history of epilepsy was present in 27.7%. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most frequent (58.2%), followed by atonic generalized seizures (9.6%) and focal clonic seizures (8.5%). The etiology was found in 68 (38.4%) patients and was dominated by neurocysticercosis (26.5%), meningitis (25%), perinatal pathologies (20.6%), and head injury (20.6%). Conclusion. This study is a useful starting point from which health programs and health professionals can work to improve the diagnosis and quality of epilepsy management in our community.

Voltage Gated Sodium Channel Genes in Epilepsy: Mutations, Functional Studies, and Treatment Dimensions

“…We observed the absence of genetic studies on epilepsy from African populations, despite the high prevalence of this disorder in Africa. Fodjo et al ( 168 ) reported the prevalence of epilepsy in West Africa as 13.14 per 1,000 persons, Akinsulore and Adewuya ( 169 ) reported an incidence rate of 5.3–37 per 100 persons in Nigeria, Esterhuizen et al ( 167 ) reported a median occurrence of 14.2 per 1,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa while Mukuku et al ( 170 ) reported 5.2–74 per 100 persons with epilepsy. Although variances occur depending on the studied region, there is remarkably higher prevalence of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in developed nations ( 171 ).…”

“…Although variances occur depending on the studied region, there is remarkably higher prevalence of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in developed nations ( 171 ). Over three-fourths of persons having epilepsy live in the LMICs, and about two-thirds of these cases have unknown etiology ( 167 , 170 ). Although some reports suggest a relationship between epilepsy and CNS infections in Africa ( 168 , 172 ), the etiology of most epilepsy remains unknown.…”

Assessment of the Quality of Life in Patients with Epilepsy in the Populous Region of Baku

“…In a study conducted in the southern Indian city of Kerala, 39% of citizens surveyed called epilepsy a hindrance to marriage, and 55% of patients hid their diagnosis from their spouse. This was also the case in the populous province of the Republic of the Congo, in Lubumbashi, where epilepsy also posed a threat to women due to the likelihood of losing the chance to marry [20][21][22]. Severe seizures with a change in consciousness, accompanied by inappropriate behavior of patients, caused bewilderment on the part of others, which negatively affected the psych emotional status of patients.…”

Case Report: Three Cases of Neurocysticercosis in Central Africa

“…3 In a study conducted in Lubumbashi, they enrolled 177 patients with epilepsy, the etiology was found in 38.4% (68/177), and 26.5% (18/68) of them had NCC. 13 The diagnosis of NCC depends on brain imaging, which is expensive (about US$300) in Lubumbashi where there is no magnetic resonance imaging device (only CT scan) and patients do not have access to this examination, which is only available in two hospitals. As for the serology, it is not available throughout the city of Lubumbashi; we were however able to collect serum samples and obtain serological confirmation by sending these for an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay to another country (Zambia), and the results came after patients had been managed as described.…”