Table 2.
Participants’ Characteristics | |
---|---|
Female sex, n (%) | 43 (50.0) |
Age (years), median (IQR) | 25.0 (20.0–29.0) |
Born in the study village, n (%) | 48 (57.1) |
Period (years) of residing in the survey area, median (IQR) | 20.0 (10.0–25.0) |
Epilepsy features | |
Age of onset of the first seizure in all PWE, median (IQR) * | 10.0 (8.0–15.0) |
Age of onset of the first nodding seizure, median (IQR) | 8.0 (5.0–12.0) |
Onset of the first seizure last year, n (%) | 2 (2.4) |
Onset of the first seizure in last 5 years, n (%) | 4 (5.0) |
Experienced absence(s) or sudden loss of contact with surroundings, for a short duration of time, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Experienced sudden, uncontrollable twitching or shaking of arms, legs, or head, for a period of a few minutes, with amnesia ^ n (%) | 76 (90.5) |
History of head nodding, n (%) | 23 (27.4) |
Loss of bladder control, n (%) | 58 (69.1) |
Foaming at the mouth, n (%) | 77 (91.7) |
Biting of the tongue, n (%) | 68 (80.9) |
Most frequent seizure types | |
Generalised convulsive seizures only, n (%) | 61 (72.6) |
Only nodding seizures, n (%) | 7 (8.3) |
Nodding and convulsive seizures, n (%) | 16 (19.1) |
Frequency of seizures | |
Daily seizure, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Weekly seizure, n (%) | 13 (15.5) |
Monthly seizure, n (%) | 55 (63.1) |
Yearly seizure, n (%) | 86 (100) |
Experienced seizure in the last 12 months, n (%) | 72 (83.7) |
Seizures/head nodding triggers | |
Spontaneous (no obvious trigger), n (%) | 67 (79.8) |
Sight of food, n (%) | 8 (9.5) |
Cold weather, n (%) | 9 (10.7) |
Severe diseases preceding the onset of seizures | |
Measles, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Malaria, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Physical examination/symptoms & | |
Reduced vision or blind in at least one eye, n (%) | 3 (3.6) |
Thoracic/spinal abnormalities, n (%) | 2 (2.4) |
Cervical lymph nodes, n (%) | 10 (11.9) |
Nakalanga manifestations, n (%) | 2 (2.5%) |
Itching, n (%) | 20 (23.8) |
Burn lesions, n (%) | 14 (16.7) |
Papular/nodular pruritic skin, n (%) | 12 (14.3) |
Neurological examination & | |
Severe cognitive impairment, n (%) | 6 (7.1) |
Paresis, n (%) | 3 (3.6) |
Behavioural problem, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Level of autonomy assessed with a modified Rankin scale | |
No significant disability despite symptoms (able to carry out all usual duties and activities) | 67 (79.8) |
Slight disability (unable to carry out all previous activities, but able to look after own affairs without assistance) | 8 (9.5) |
Moderate disability (requiring some help, but able to walk without assistance) | 5 (5.9) |
Moderately severe disability (unable to walk without assistance and unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance) | 4 (4.8) |
Epilepsy classification | |
Epilepsy without head nodding, n (%) | 63 (73.2) |
Head nodding only, n (%) | 7 (8.1) |
Head nodding with other seizure types, n (%) | 16 (18.6) |
Meeting OAE criteria +, n (%) | 65 (81.3) |
Family members with epilepsy | |
Family history of seizures, n (%) | 45 (53.6) |
Siblings (brother/sister) P, n (%) | 37 (82.2) |
Father/Mother P, n (%) | 7 (15.7) |
Grandparent P, n (%) | 1 (2.2) |
History of anti-seizure medication | |
Never used an anti-seizure medication, n (%) | 4 (4.6) |
Currently taking an anti-seizure medication, n (%) | 82 (95.4) |
Type of anti-seizure medication T | |
Phenobarbital, n (%) | 24 (29.4) |
Phenytoin, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Carbamazepine, n (%) | 55 (67.1) |
Sodium valproate, n (%) | 1 (1.2) |
Ivermectin intake | |
Ever received ivermectin, n (%) # | 58/74 (78.4) |
Ivermectin intake in 2021, n (%) $ | 33/79 (41.7) |
Ivermectin intake in 2021 not known, n (%) | 7 (8.9) |
n: count; IQR: interquartile range; ^: 2 missing; *: the age onset of the first seizure of 6 PWE was not known; &: 34 missing; T: 4 missing; #: 12 did not remember whether they had ever taken ivermectin; $: 7 PWE did not know their ivermectin intake status. P: the denominator = family with seizure history (n = 45); +: missing information on: age of onset of the first seizure, severe diseases preceding the onset of seizure, or psychomotor problem (n = 7).