title: Pattern and associated factors of the neurolathyrism epidemic in Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the neurolathyrism epidemic in Ethiopia and to identify associated household factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 589 randomly selected heads of household in Debre Sina district of Ethiopia, the area afflicted by the recent neurolathyrism epidemic. Disease information was obtained for 2987 family members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurolathyrism patients were detected in 56 (9.5%) households (prevalence rate 2.38%). The mean number of affected family members per household was 1.27 (SD 0.65, range 1-3). Most (77.5%) patients developed the disability during the epidemic (1995-1999). The median age at onset of paralysis was 11 years with a range of 41 (range 3-44). Younger people were more affected during the epidemic than during the non-epidemic period (P=0.01). The presence of a neurolathyrism patient in the family was associated with illiteracy [adjusted OR (95% CI)=2.23 (1.07-5.10)] of the head of household, with owning a grass pea farm [adjusted OR (95% CI)=2.01 (1.04-3.88)] and with the exclusive cooking of grass pea foods using handmade traditional clay pots [adjusted OR (95% CI=2.06 (1.08-3.90)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Males aged 10-14 years were most affected by neurolathyrism. Increased household risk was associated with illiteracy of the head of the household and exclusive cooking of grass pea foods with handmade traditional clay pots.
authors.affiliation: South Gonder Health Department, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Haileyesus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.forename: Fernand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lambein
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanhoorne
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van der Stuyft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007842:Lathyrism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D027807:Lathyrus / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors