Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in Ulanga, a rural Tanzanian district: a community-based study.
A random cluster sample survey of approximately 18,000 people in 11 villages was performed in Ulanga, a Tanzanian district with a population of approximately 139,000 people. Well-instructed fourth-year medical students and neurologic and psychiatry nurses identified persons with epilepsy using a screening questionnaire and sent them to a neurologist for detailed evaluation. Identified were 207 subjects (88 male, 119 female) with epilepsy; of these, 185 (89.4%) (80 male, 105 female) had active epilepsy. The prevalence of active epilepsy was 10.2 in 1,000. Prevalence among villages varied, ranging from 5.1 to 37.1 in 1,000 (age-adjusted 5.8-37.0). In a 10-year period (1979-1988) 122 subjects living in the 11 villages developed epilepsy, with an annual incidence of 73.3 in 100,000. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) accounted for 58% and partial seizures accounted for 31.9%, whereas in 10.1% seizures were unclassifiable. Of the partial seizures, secondarily generalized seizures were the most common. Possible etiologic or associated factors were identifiable in only 25.3% of cases. Febrile convulsions were associated in 13.4 of cases. Other associated factors included unspecified encephalitis (4.7%), cerebral malaria (1.9%), birth injury (1.4%), and other (3%). In 38% of the cases, there was a positive family history of epilepsy.
Rwiza
H T
HT
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kilonzo
G P
GP
Haule
J
J
Matuja
W B
WB
Mteza
I
I
Mbena
P
P
Kilima
P M
PM
Mwaluko
G
G
Mwang'ombola
R
R
Mwaijande
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000453:epidemiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology