Table 4 Clinical characteristics and developmental history of the 14 persons with confirmed epilepsy in the study communities
Characteristics | Overall (N = 14) |
|---|---|
Females | 7 (50%) |
Median age, years (IQR) | 20 (14‒30) |
Symptoms of epilepsy | |
Age onset of the first seizure in all PWE, median in years (range) | 12 (6‒14 years) |
Seizure in the last 5 years, n (%) | 13 (92.9%) |
Aura/sensation before seizures, n (%) | 10 (71.4%) |
Loss of consciousness, n (%) | 12 (85.7%) |
Seizures with passing urine or stool on self and /or foaming at the mouth, n (%) | 12 (85.7%) |
Frequency of seizures, n (%) | |
Daily (more than 7 per week) | 2 (15.4%) |
Monthly (less than 4 per month) | 4 (30.8%) |
Weekly (less than 7 per week) | 4 (30.8%) |
Yearly (less than 1 per month) | 3 (23.1%) |
Experienced seizures in the last 12 months? | 12 (85.7%) |
Reported seizure types, n (%) | |
Generalized seizures with loss of consciousness | 12 (85.7%) |
Atonic seizures (drop attacks) | 3 (21.4%) |
Absences | 7 (50.0%) |
Focal seizures, consciousness not lost | 6 (42.9%) |
Focal seizures with decreased consciousness | 3 (21.4%) |
Family history of seizures, n (%) | |
Family history of seizures | 5 (35.7%) |
Father | 3 (21.4%) |
Mother | 2 (14.2%) |
Family history of mental illness | 3 (21.4%) |
Psychomotor development during childhood prior to onset of seizures, n (%) | |
Normal growth | 12 (85.7%) |
Learned to do things like other children of his/her age | 13 (92.9%) |
Cognitive development comparable with peers | 10 (71.4%) |
Normal mental development | 5 (35.7%) |
Severe disease preceding onset of seizures, n (%) | |
Severe measles | 2 (14.3%) |
Encephalitis/meningitis | 1 (7.1%) |
Head injury with loss of consciousness | 3 (21.4%) |
Prolonged post-traumatic coma | 1 (7.1%) |
Febrile convulsions | 2 (14.3%) |
Stomach pains and headache | 1 (7.1%) |
Physical examinations, n (%) | |
Facial abnormalities | 4 (28.6%) |
Looks much younger than he/she is (growth retardation) | 10 (71.4%) |
Burn scars | 1 (7.1%) |
Itching | 4 (28.6%) |
Impaired vision | 1 (7.1%) |
Generalized muscle wasting | 4 (28.6%) |
Contractures | 2 (14.3%) |
Neurological examination, n (%) | |
Alert | 10 (71.4%) |
Oriented in place/time/person | 9 (64.3%) |
Paresis | 0 (0.0%) |
Walks normally | 13 (92.9%) |
Aggressive episodes | 4 (28.6%) |
Anti-seizure medication taken, n (%) | |
Phenobarbital | 1 (7.1%) |
Carbamazepin | 5 (35.7%) |
Ethosuximide | 1 (7.1%) |
Traditional medicines | 6 (42.8%) |
No anti-seizure medication | 6 (42.8%) |
Followed up in a health facility for epilepsy treatment | 4 (28.6%) |
Ivermectin intake, n (%) | |
Never taken ivermectin | 3 (21.4%) |
Took ivermectin before onset of seizures | 5 (35.7%) |
Took ivermectin during the last distribution (March, 2021) | 9 (64.3%) |
O. volvulus infection/exposure, n/N (%) | |
O. volvulus microfilariae | 1/12 (8.3%) |
Ov16 seropositivity | 1/7 (14.3%) |