Volume 19, Number 9—September 2013
Synopsis
Nodding Syndrome
Table 1
Studies of nodding syndrome and major findings
Location, author, date (reference) | Major finding* |
---|---|
Tanzania, Aall-Jilek, 1965 (4) | Reported nodding as symptom in a description of epilepsy |
Liberia, Van der Waals et al., 1983 (3) | Described seizure disorders as dorsoventral movements of the head |
Uganda, Kaiser et al., 2000 (5) | Reported head nodding as 1 feature of complex partial seizures |
Sudan, Tumwine, et al.2001–2002 (2) | Described nodding disease as a progressive epileptic encephalopathy; weak associations with measles, sorghum, and baboon brain consumption; stronger associations with testing for onchocerciasis and Mansonella perstans nematodes |
Tanzania, Winkler et al., 2008 (9) | Reported clinical description of 62 patients; 48 CSF samples mostly clear, 2/10 EEG interictal changes (no recording of nodding episodes), and 8/12 nonspecific MRI changes |
Uganda, Sejvar et al., 2009 (7) | Reported neurologic and clinical characterization of the syndrome, EEG documenting atonic seizure as cause for nodding, and negative CSF and MRI findings |
Uganda, Foltz et al., 2009 (6) | Reported descriptive epidemiology and case–control results, and associations with munitions, crushed roots, and antibodies against Onchocerca spp. nematodes |
Uganda, unpub. data, 2010 | Reported follow up case–control results; associations with gun raids and antibodies against Onchocerca spp. nematodes; no differences for questions regarding consumption of crushed roots |
Tanzania, Winkler et al., 2010 (10) | Provided additional detail on 62 aforementioned patients; unsatisfactory seizure control and cognitive impairment |
South Sudan, Nyungura et al., 2011 (11) | Described features of 96 cases |
South Sudan, Riek, 2011 (8) | Reported skin snip specimens with microfilaria more common among patients than controls. |
*CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; EEG, electroencephalography.
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