title: Epilepsy in transition from child care to adult service: a missing link in sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disease which predominantly affects children and young adults. The disease is highly stigmatised and transition from child care to adult services is not routine in many low- and middle-income countries. Where a treatment system follows routines which cannot be sustained in such countries because of specialised manpower challenges, it becomes imperative that appropriate care models be sought for patients whose seizures fail to remit in childhood. In teaching hospitals, well-organised, multidisciplinary meetings and a planned transfer between paediatric and adult neurologists will be feasible. However, an alternative model is advocated at the community level where the majority of the patients reside which involves task shifting to general practitioners and community healthcare workers. The latter can organise home visits to ensure management compliance. This will ensure better seizure outcomes and a good quality of life for epileptic patients.
authors: 1 Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: Ayoade
authors: A
authors: Adebiyi
authors: 2 Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: IkeOluwa
authors: I
authors: Lagunju
authors: 3 Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: Adesola
authors: A
authors: Ogunniyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Epidemiology; disease; location; nervous; other diagnosis; other treatment; physiology