The features of epilepsy in the Malagasy. A hospital study on 213 cases from the Northwestern part of Madagascar

Afri. J. Neuro. Sci. Vol. 16 No. 2 July 1997 THE FEATURES OF EPILEPSY IN THE MALAGASY. A HOSPITAL STUDY ON 213 CASES FROM THE NORTH WESTERN PART OF MADAGASCAR Andriantseheno L.M., Andrianasy T.F. Code Number:NS97007 A retrospective study on 213 files of epileptic patients issued from a sample of 741 referrals to the University Hospital of Majunga, Neuropsychiatry Unit, between June 1, 1993 December, 31, 1995 was reported. Mahajanga, the chief-town of the Province is a hot and dry region where malaria, shistosomiasis, tuberculosis and syphilis are endemic. As in the majority of tropical series, the most involved agegroup was between 10 and 30 years; partial seizures had a higher rate compared to the generalized forms (52% vs 46%). The most prominent risk factors were linked to parasitosis (neurocysticercosis), to defective obstetrical cares (perinatal injuries) and infatile conditions (febrile convulsions). The lack of neurodiagnosis facilities (EEG, EMG, brain imaging) restrains notably the aetiological researches. In Madagascar, the compliance to a long lasting and expensive treatment set a problem (due to the indigence of the population, and a bad distribution of antiepileptic drugs). RESUME Une etude retrospective des dossiers de 213 epiletiques tires d'une population de 741 malades admis au niveau d'un service de Neuropsychiatrie de Mahajanga (du 01.06.93 au 31.12.95) a ete rapportee. Cette ville, chef-lieu de la province du meme nom a un climat et sec ou le paludisme, la bilharziose, la tuberculose et la syphilis sont endemiques. Comme dans la plupart des series tropicales, la tranche d'age la plus atteint est celle comprise entre 10 et 30 ans; les crises partielles predominent sur les formes g6neralisees (52% vs 46%). Les facteurs de risque les plus importants sont d'origine parasitaire (neurocysticercose) ou lies aux conditions obstetricales (souffrances perinatales) et pediatriques precaires (convulsions febriles). Copyright 1997 Pan African Association of Neurological Science