title: Neurocysticercosis among patients with first time seizure in Northern Namibia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurocysticercosis is a common cause of seizures in low resource countries. There is a paucity of data regarding the extent of this infection in Namibia. There are multiple causes of First-time seizure including electrolyte abnormalities, infections, trauma, drugs, alcohol and many times no apparent cause can be found. We sought to describe the burden of Neurocysticercosis among individuals with a first-time seizure in Namibia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 221 patients with a First-time seizure who presented to the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati between August 2012 and March 2014. Patients with seizures due to identifiable causes like trauma, electrolytes, intoxications and meningitis were excluded. Brain CT scans were done, blood serological testing of Neurocysticercosis antibodies, Physical examination and demographic variables were collected. Data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and transferred to stata version for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six (96) of the participants had evidence of Neurocysticercosis on Brain CT scan representing a prevalence of 51.41%. Consumption of pork and rearing of pigs in the homestead were significant factors associated with Neurocysticercosis in our study population with odds of 3.48(1.45-8.33) and 2.07(1.11-3.86) respectively. Serological testing for Cyticercosis IgG had a sensitivity of 65.93% and Specificity of 96.51%. The positive and negative predictive values were 95.2% and 72.81% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurocysticercosis is a common cause of Index seizures in Northern Namibia, living in a rural area, rearing pigs in homesteads, eating pork and poor sanitary practices are the major risk factors for this illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshakati, Namibia.
authors.forename: Innocent Lule
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Segamwenge
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshakati, Namibia.
authors.forename: Ngalyuka Paul
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kioko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshakati, Namibia.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshakati, Namibia.
authors.forename: Ogunsina
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Collaboration, Makerere University.
authors.forename: Wanzira
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshakati, Namibia.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Augustinus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neurocysticercosis; epilepsy; first-time seizure