Afri.J.Neuro.Sci.Vol.16 No.2 July 1997
HOSPITAL BASED STUDY ON NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN
MADAGASCAR. DATA FROM THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
Andriantseheno L.M., Andrianasy T.F.
Code Number:NS97006
SUMMARY
Hospital-based data on neurological
disorders from Mahajanga, the Northwestern province of Madagascar
are reported.
Epilepsies (28.75% of cases), chronic headaches
(20.95%), peripheral neuropathies (13.75%) and stroke (11.30%) are
the commonest illnesses encountered. Unlike western series,
degenerative diseases and multiple sclerosis are infrequent. The
major risk factors (communicable diseases, malnutritions,
poverty-induced stresses) and some aspects of the health care (lack
of essential neurodiagnosis facilities and drugs) are shared with
other developing tropical countries.
RESUME
Les auteurs rapportent les donnees
hospitalieres sur les troubles neurologiques rencontres a
Mahajanga, province occupant la partie Nord-ouest de Madagascar.
Les epilepsies (28,75% des cas), les cephalees chroniques (20,95%),
les neuropathies peripheriques (11,30%) constituent les affections
les plus frequemtes. Contrairement aux statistiques occidentales,
les maladies degeneratives et la solerose en plaques sont
rares.
Les principaux facteurs de risque (maladies
transmissibles, manultrition, stress provoques par la pauvrete) et
quelques aspects des realites sanitaires (manque d'equipments de
diagnostic et de medicaments fondamentaux) sont partages avec
d'autres pays tropicaux en voie de developpement.
Key words: epidemiology - neurological
diseases - Madagascar.
Copyright 1997 Pan African Association of Neurological
Sciences
