Epidemic spastic paraparesis in Bandundu (Zaire).
Epidemiological findings of twenty sporadic cases of epidemic spastic paraparesis (buka-buka) in three areas of Bandundu (Zaire) are reported. These findings suggest the involvement of an infectious agent and do not support the hypothesis of a dietary cyanide intoxication, which has been advanced to explain the outbreak of a very similar disease (Mantakassa) in Mozambique.
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology