title: Neurological disorders in rural Africa: a systematic approach.
abstract: Empirical knowledge suggests that neurological disorders are common in sub-Saharan Africa. The aims of our study were to assess the hospital-based prevalence of neurological disorders in a rural African setting and to suggest a systematic approach to disease classification. Of 8676 admissions (over a period of eight months) 740 patients (8.5%) were given a neurological diagnosis; cases were grouped according to diagnostic certainty. We suggest three major categories for neurological disorders (group 1=no diagnostic uncertainties; group 2=minor diagnostic uncertainties; group 3=major diagnostic uncertainties) with clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. drawinkler@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Andrea Sylvia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mosser
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmutzhard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology