Table 1.
Patients characteristic
| With konzo | Without konzo | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | |||
|
| |||
| Number of patients | 123 | 82 | ·· |
| Age (years) | 8·7 (2·5) | 9·1 (2·6) | 0·21 |
| Sex (female) | 58 (41%) | 34 (47%) | 0·47* |
| Enrolled in school | 73 (59%) | 73 (89%) | 0·0001* |
| School grade level | 1·3 (1·6) | 2·5 (1·9) | 0·0010 |
| Caregiver with konzo | 99 (81%) | 58 (66%) | 0·0216* |
| Other family with konzo | 85 (85%) | 61 (70%) | 0·0075* |
| Weight for age (CDC Z score†) | −2·9 (−1·0) | −2·1 (1·5) | <0·0001 |
| Height for Age (CDC Z score†) | −3·4 (1·4) | −2·3 (1·8) | <0·0001 |
| Caldwell HOME score total‡ | 43·5 (8·1) | 47·2 (10·4) | 0·0040 |
| Socioeconomic status score§ | 2·2 (1·1) | 2·8 (3·2) | 0·07 |
| Neurological index Score¶ | 11·4 (4·4) | 2·0 (1·7) | <0·0001 |
| Urinary thiocyanate (µmol/mL) | 519 (354) | 389 (224) | 0·0060 |
|
| |||
| 2 years | |||
|
| |||
| Number of patients | 76 | 36 | ·· |
| Age (years) | 10·2 (2·4) | 10·8 (2·4) | 0·44 |
| Sex (female) | 35 (46%) | 12 (33%) | 0·22 |
| Weight for age (WHO Z score†) | −3·8 (1·3) | −2·3 (1·4) | <0·0001 |
| Height for age (WHO Z score†) | −3·1 (1·4) | −1·7 (1·5) | <0·0001 |
| Caldwell HOME score total‡ | 45·2 (7·2) | 49·2 (11·8) | 0·06 |
| Neurological index score¶ | 12·4 (4·8) | 1·3 (1·9) | <0·0001 |
|
| |||
| 4 years | |||
|
| |||
| Number of patients | 55 | 33 | ·· |
| Age (years) | 11·9 (2·1) | 12·0 (2·2) | 0·85 |
| Sex (female) | 26 (47%) | 14 (42%) | 0·83 |
| Weight for age (WHO Z score†) | −3·8 (1·6) | −2·0 (0·7) | <0·0001 |
| Height for age (WHO Z score†) | −3·7 (1·8) | −2·2 (1·7) | <0·0001 |
| Caldwell HOME score total‡ | 45·5 (8·0) | 49·5 (10·8) | 0·05 |
| Urinary thiocyanate (µmol/mL) | 1056 (577) | 1098 (572) | 0·44 |
Data are mean (SD) or n (%). p values are based on Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test unless otherwise specified. CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
p values for χ2 statistic between categories (gender, enrolled in school).
Z score values are from CDC 2000 norms from Epi Info at baseline and from WHO at 2 years and 4 years.
Based on the Caldwell Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment (HOME) total score.
The socioeconomic status score is measured by assessing the physical characteristics of home dwelling and material and animal possessions during a visit to the home.
Children with konzo and children without konzo were assessed for upper-motor neuron signs, which are characteristic of konzo. From this exam we computed a total score reflecting the neurological impairment pertaining to konzo. For each of the neurological signs listed in table 1 index, children were scored as either normal (0 points), mildly abnormal (1 point), or moderately or severely abnormal (2 points).