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Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/16/691502
Kitgum faced with epilepsy outbreak
Sunday, 16th August, 2009
By Anne Mugisa and Chris Ocowun
Medical authorities in Kitgum district have reported an epilepsy outbreak, which they attributed to the parasites that cause river blindness.
Three sub-counties of Amida, Palabek Game and Palabek Ogili are affected, according to the district health officer, Dr. Alex Olwedo.
Reports indicated that more than 500 children between 10 and 14 years have been affected.
Olwedo said the Government had started distributing drugs to the patients.
He explained that the drugs were for river blindness and treatment would last for 15 years.
He further explained that the initial symptoms depended on the part of the body the worm attacked.
Odwedo added that when the worm attacks the skin, it itches and nodes appear.
He said sometimes it attacks the brain, which seems to be the case with the children, adding that when it attacks the eyes, the patient loses sight gradually.
The Kitgum psychiatric clinical officer, Grace Mary Lanyero, said if the ailment attacking the children, locally referred to as ?nodding disease?, is left untreated, it could develop into severe epilepsy.
Reports said about six children suffering from the disease had died after falling in fire and water.
The reports further said the affected children were dropping out of school.
This type of epilepsy, according to the medical officers, is different from the common one where the victim gets seizures, loses consciousness and fail to control their body functions during attack.
Lanyero said the children affected by the disease were malnourished and had retarded growth. She added that their appetite was also affected.
Lanyero said the disease was first noticed in 2008 when most of the children attending the mental health clinic were from Okidi, Alune and Pajimo camps for the internally displaced persons, which have flies that transmit the river blindness parasites.
Kitgum faced with epilepsy outbreak
Sunday, 16th August, 2009
By Anne Mugisa and Chris Ocowun
Medical authorities in Kitgum district have reported an epilepsy outbreak, which they attributed to the parasites that cause river blindness.
Three sub-counties of Amida, Palabek Game and Palabek Ogili are affected, according to the district health officer, Dr. Alex Olwedo.
Reports indicated that more than 500 children between 10 and 14 years have been affected.
Olwedo said the Government had started distributing drugs to the patients.
He explained that the drugs were for river blindness and treatment would last for 15 years.
He further explained that the initial symptoms depended on the part of the body the worm attacked.
Odwedo added that when the worm attacks the skin, it itches and nodes appear.
He said sometimes it attacks the brain, which seems to be the case with the children, adding that when it attacks the eyes, the patient loses sight gradually.
The Kitgum psychiatric clinical officer, Grace Mary Lanyero, said if the ailment attacking the children, locally referred to as ?nodding disease?, is left untreated, it could develop into severe epilepsy.
Reports said about six children suffering from the disease had died after falling in fire and water.
The reports further said the affected children were dropping out of school.
This type of epilepsy, according to the medical officers, is different from the common one where the victim gets seizures, loses consciousness and fail to control their body functions during attack.
Lanyero said the children affected by the disease were malnourished and had retarded growth. She added that their appetite was also affected.
Lanyero said the disease was first noticed in 2008 when most of the children attending the mental health clinic were from Okidi, Alune and Pajimo camps for the internally displaced persons, which have flies that transmit the river blindness parasites.
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