Konzo prevention in six villages in the DRC and the dependence of konzo prevalence on cyanide intake and malnutrition.

ABSTRACT: Six villages in Boko Health Zone, Bandundu Province, DRC, were studied with 4588 people, 144 konzo cases and konzo prevalences of 2.0-5.2%. Konzo incidence is increasing rapidly in this area. Food consumption scores were obtained from the households with konzo and the mean % malnutrition calculated for each village. Urine samples were obtained from 50 school children from each village and % high urinary thiocyanate content (>350 μmol/L) determined. The experimental data relating % konzo prevalence (%K) to % children with high urinary thiocyanate content (%T) and % malnutrition (%M) for the six villages were fitted to an equation %K = 0.06%T + 0.035%M. This confirms that konzo is due to a combination of high cyanide intake and malnutrition. The village women used the wetting method to remov

SUBMITTER: Banea JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5598134 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature