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. 2022 Mar 24;11(4):396. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11040396

Table 2.

Characteristics of the 86 persons with epilepsy (PWE) examined by clinicians.

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).