title: Association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy in the Itwara hyperendemic focus, West Uganda: controlling for time and intensity of exposure.
abstract: In 38 pairs of epilepsy patients and controls matched for time and intensity of exposure to transmission of onchocerciasis, the presence of microfilariae in the skin of epilepsy patients was found insignificantly elevated compared with controls (odds ratio = 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.60-4.57; P = 0.31). This difference was more pronounced when detection of subcutaneous nodules was used as indication of infection with Onchocerca volvulus (odds ratio = 2.77; 95% CI = 0.92-8.33; P = 0.065). These findings from a patient group of limited size suggest that intensity of infection may play a substantial role in the development of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy. Our results are in contrast to the results of two other independent studies from the identical endemic area; one case concluded a significant positive correlation between onchocerciasis and epilepsy, and the other case concluded a clearly negative correlation. Studies with a greater sample size are needed to confirm this possible relationship.
authors.affiliation: Basic Health Services, Kabarole and Bundibugyo Districts, Fort Portal, Uganda. drchkaiser@web.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rubaale
authors.forename: Ephraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tukesiga
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kipp
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kabagambe
authors.forename: Joa Okech
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ojony
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asaba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult