Impact of poorly controlled epilepsy in the Republic of Guinea.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:To characterize people with epilepsy (PWE) presenting to a free neurology consultation and antiepileptic drug (AED) service in the Republic of Guinea. METHODS:Guinea is a low-income country in West Africa that recently experienced an Ebola Virus Disease epidemic. Community-dwelling PWE were seen at a public referral hospital in Conakry, the capital city. During two visits in 2017, an African-U.S. team performed structured interviews and electroencephalograms and provided AEDs. RESULTS:Of 257 participants (143 children, 122 female), 25% had untreated epilepsy and 72% met our criteria for poorly controlled epilepsy. 59% had >100 lifetime seizures, and 58% reported a history consistent with status epilepticus. 38 school-aged children were not in school and 26 adults were unemployed. 1

SUBMITTER: Jang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6168342 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature