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African Journal of Neurological Sciences
Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences
ISSN: 1015-8618
Vol. 16, Num. 2, 1997
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HOSPITAL BASED STUDY ON NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN
MADAGASCAR
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.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital, Mahajanga,
Madagascar.
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.
INTRODUCTION
Tropical countries share common climatic and
biologic characteristics. They are thus expected to disclose
similar patterns of diseases. However, the prevalence of these
diseases vary because of the development and of the sociocultural
peculiarities of each country. Population-based studies, the most
appropriate ones to assess the magnitude of each health problem are
unavailable in Madagascar. We report hospital data from Mahajanga,
a Northwestem region of the island.
STUDY POPULATION AND METHOD
The study population was expected to be that
of the whole province (1,379,000 inhabitants), but in fact, only
the population of the city of Mahajanga and its nearest
surroundings (up to 200,000 inhabitants) had access to the
University hospital.
The population was young (44<15 years-old,
only 3,2%>65 years-old), with an isosexual repartition
expectancy (52 years vs 69 years for Mauritius) [1]. A
considerable proportion of Mahajanga city dwellers have an Islamic
influence, expressed in prohibitory eating behaviours (pork,
alcoholic, drinks). The region has a hot and dry climate where
malaria, schistosomiasis tuberculosis and syphilis are endemic.
The study itself consisted in a retrospective
exam of registered inpatients and outpatients files in the
department of Neuropsychiatry (University Hospital) between June 1,
1993 and December 31, 1995. Patients of both sexes, aged more than
one year-old were included.
Electrical devices (EEG,EMG), cerebral imageries
(CT scan, MRI), and sophisticated biological investigations were
unavailable, so the diagnosis was built up on sole clinical and
routine laboratory data. In fact, the most conclusive argument was
the radical cure or alleviation of symptoms. The claSsification of
the diseases was made according to internationally. recognised
definitions (NINDS, IHS, ILAE, ICD 10).
RESULTS
1161 patients were registered during the
study period: 741 had neurological disorders, 334 had psychiatric
disorders, 86 had non neuropsychiatric diseases (table 1).
Epileptic seizures were listed in table .3:
their classification, according to the 1981 ICE version was
possible in spite of EEG data unavailability. Some authorities have
admitted the validity of such classification (2,3). Like in most of
tropical regions (3,4,5), partial seizures were predominant whereas
absence seizures
Table 1 - Repartition of the diseases
registered at the Department of Neuropsychiatry during the study
period.
|
Number(n) |
Percentage (%) |
Total of cases |
1161 |
100 |
Neurological diseases |
741 |
63.85 |
Psychiatric diseases |
334 |
28.75 |
Non neuropsychiatric diseases |
86 |
7.40 |
Outpatients represented 68,42% of cases (n=507),
and inpatients 31,58% of cases (n=234). Epilepsies were followed by
chronic headaches, which were selectively recruited among
outpatients..Cerebrovascular diseases occupied the second place
among inpatients; the real magnitude of this affection might be
underevaluated, because of parallel recruitment in other wards.
Unlike series from industrialised countries, degenerative diseases
were rare. Peripheral neuropathies were common, whereas spastic
paraparesis were of a minor concern. Two per cent (2%) of
neuropathies (15/741 ) were inclassifiable because of the lack of
specific investigations.
Table 3
Distribution of the epileptic seizures according
to the International Classification (ICES), 1981 version.
Seizure type |
Number |
Rate (%) |
Total |
213 |
100 |
Unclassifiable seizures |
5 |
2 |
C|assifiable seizures |
208 |
98 |
Generalized seizures |
97 |
47 |
Tonic clonic |
89 |
43 |
Absence |
2 |
1 |
Myoclonic |
2 |
1 |
Others |
4 |
2 |
Partial seizures |
111 |
53 |
Simple |
42 |
20 |
Complex |
10 |
5 |
Secondarily generalised |
59 |
28 |
were underrated (1% vs 10% for GASTAUT's [6].
Among the epilepsies which were deemed as secondary (56%=119/213),
a putative aetiology was found in only 54% of them (64/119).
Neurocystcercosis was the commonest pathology involved (42% of the
aetiologies, i.e. 27/64).
Phenobarbital was the drug of first choice (94%
of the prescriptions). The other antiepileptic drugs were either
unavailable, or too expensive.
Table 2
Aetiological repartition of the neurological
diseases (in percentage)among all the patients, outpatients and
inpatients.
Nature of the disease |
All patients |
Outpatients |
Inpatients |
n=741 |
Rate (%) |
n=507) |
Rate (%) |
n=234 |
(Rate %) |
Epilepsies |
213 |
28.75 |
161 |
31.75 |
52 |
22.22 |
Chronic headaches |
155 |
20.95 |
150 |
29.58 |
5 |
2.13 |
Peripheral neuropathies |
102 |
13.75 |
61 |
12.03 |
41 |
17.52 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
83 |
11.30 |
32 |
6.30 |
51 |
21.80 |
Infections of the CNS |
69 |
9.35 |
24 |
4.75 |
45 |
19.24 |
Cerebral palsy |
42 |
5.60 |
40 |
7.90 |
2 |
0.85 |
Degenerative diseases |
26 |
3.50 |
8 |
1.58 |
18 |
7.70 |
Tumoral syndromes of the CNS |
24 |
3.20 |
10 |
1.98 |
14 |
5.98 |
Sleep disorders |
6 |
0.80 |
6 |
1.18 |
- |
- |
Traumatic brain injuries |
3 |
0.40 |
- |
- |
3 |
1.28 |
Myopathies |
3 |
0.40 |
- |
- |
3 |
1.28 |
Unclassifiable disorders |
15 |
2.00 |
15 |
2.90 |
- |
- |
Chronic headaches were dominated by migraine
(table 4); tension headaches were unexpectedly rare.' Many
physicians were still unfamiliar with migraine, as judged by the
non negligible rate of diagnosis wanderings (spasmophilia, ocular
dsyfunctions, sinusitis), and maladjusted prescriptions (preventive
treatment prescribed for one month.). Long term management of
migraine suffered from the same bad compliance than that
encountered in epilepsies; the main reasons were unavailability or
cost inaccessibility (in percentage).
Table 4
Aetiological repartition of the chronic headaches
(in percentage).
Types of
headaches |
Number |
Rate (%) |
Total |
15 5 |
100 |
Migraine |
115 |
74.20 |
Psychiatric cephalalgia |
10 |
6,.45 |
Tension headache 1 |
- |
|
Chronic type |
10 |
6.45 |
Episodic type |
7 |
4.50 |
Symptomatic headaches |
9 |
5.80 |
Cluster headache |
2 |
1.30 |
Facial neuralgia |
2 |
1,30 |
The aetiology investigations and the
classification of neuropathies (table 5) were limited by the lack
of diagnosis facilities (EMG, nerve conduction studies, specific
biologic dosages). The main putative cause asserted was
polyvitamins deficiency (26% of cases, ie 27/102) within the frame
of global malnutrition or alcoholism.
Heavy deficiency sufferers (e.g prisoners)
sometimes disclosed a proximal hindlimbs involvement. Three cases
were associated with heart failure (wet beriberi). Radicular
compressions (mainly of the sciatic type) were surprisingly
overrepresented in our series, whereas facial nerve palsy was
unfrequent (8,82% of cases). Unlike some African countries (7), no
HIV-related palsies were encountered. Mahajanga has a leprosarium,
so only a typical manifestations of this infectious disease were
addressed in our department (2,94% of cases).
Table 5
Repartition of the different anatomoclinical
forms of neuropathies (in percentage).
Peripheral
neuropathies |
number |
Rate (%) |
Total |
102 |
100 |
Mononeuropathies |
115 |
74.50 |
- Radicular compression |
27 |
26.47 |
- Facial Paralysis |
9 |
8.82 |
- Plexus syndromes |
4 |
3.92 |
- Entrapment
neuropathies |
4 |
3.92 |
Subacute or chronic
polyneuropathies |
34 |
33.33 |
Guillain-Barre
syndromes |
14 |
13.72 |
Mononeuropathies
multiplex |
5 |
4.90 |
Infection of Peripheral nerves
(leprosy) |
3 |
2.94 |
Myalgia syndromes |
1 |
0.98 |
Optic nerve atrophy |
1 |
0.98 |
Like in the majority of Caucasian (8) and
African studies (9,10), strokes were dominated by the ischemic type
(table 6).
Table 6
Aetiological repartition of strokes (in
percentage)
Strokes |
Number |
Rate (%) |
Total |
83 |
100 |
|schemic strokes |
53 |
64 |
Haemorrhagic strokes |
15 |
18 |
Hypertensive encephalopathy |
5 |
6 |
Unclassifiable strokes |
10 |
12 |
Hypertensive encephalopathy was screened with
accuracy because of its better therapeutic issue. Hypertension and
syphilis were the main risk factors identified. The global fatality
rate was high (58% of cases, i.e. 48/83). Neurosisticercosis was at
the head of CNS infections (table 7), although the anatomical
specimen prevalence of this Parasitosis (11) was among the lowest
in Mahajanga(6% vs 40% for Antananarivo, 32% for Tulear, 15% for
Fianarantsoa). Diagnosis was madeon sole clinical and serological
basis (12); in fact,the therapeutic trial remained the most
conclusiveargument. Bacterial infections of the cerebrum andits
coverings were surely underestimated becauseof parallel
recruitments.
Table 7 - Frequency of CNS infections
(in percentage)
Infections of the CNS |
Number |
Rate(%) |
Total |
69 |
100 |
Neurocysticercosis |
34 |
49 |
Meningitides,encephalomeningitides,brain
abscess |
16 |
23 |
Cerebral malaria |
15 |
22 |
Neurosyphilis |
4 |
6 |
Intrathecal antibiotics were often useful to
palliate the dose inadequacy of parenteral drugs. Celebral malaria,
like in the other underdeveloped countries (13), provided a high
fatality-rate (26% of cases, ie 4/15), because of delayed
chemotherapy. Neither HIV carriers nor proved quinine resistance
was encountered among our fatal cases. Among degenerative
affections, Parkinsoffs disease was the most frequent. Parkinsonism
related to chronic use of neuroleptics was far commoner.
Alzheimer-type dementia was not yet a public health problem.
DISCUSSION
The data from Mahajanga, globally display
the same patterns of neurological diseases as those found in the
majority of tropical regions. In spite of the lack of
population-based studies, the leading position of epilepsies among
our hospital-registered cases confirm their importance in public
health. The predominance of partial seizure parallels the high rate
of secondary epilepsies. However, their pattern is not homogenous
in different tropical countries: Nigerian studies (4) emphasize the
causative role of febrile convulsions to explain the higher rate of
complex partial seizures; on the contrary, Indian studies (5) yield
a higher rate of partial simple seizures (58% of cases) and credit
the prominent role of CNS infections, amongst which
neurocysticercosis is paramount. Our pattern is of the Indian type
(table 3) and this parasitosis, really plays an important role.
Additional studies on risk factors, appropriate drug supply (14/15)
and pertinent education of the population, are the most adapted
means to fight against epilepsies.
Concerning chronic headaches, post graduate
training is needed to improve the diagnosis and the management of
the main aetiologic forms, viz migraine and headaches of
psychological origin. Drugs availability and cost must be taken
into account in case of long term treatment; patients' compliance
depend on these extramedical factors. Traditional pharmacopoeia
(16) and alternative medicine (17) are optional or complementary
issues for developing countries, but their use must be regulated.
Peripheral neuropathies are probably underrated, for a bulk of
patients to the hospital recruitment; the reasons may be a self
management with vitamins and plants, geographical isolation and so
on. The endowment of essential facilities (EMG, nerve conduction
measurement, biological dosages) will enrich the knowledge about
these diseases, common in tropical countries; certain aetiologies
are likely different from those encountered in Western regions.
Massive polyvitamins deficiency is frequent
among prisoners. Associated with a major protein calorie
malnutrition it can provoke both axonal and segmental demyelination
(18); this latter may explain the involvement of proximal
hind-limbs in many patients. It is surprising to detect HTL V 1
among Malagasy patients, for the Seychelles, which share the same
climatic, ecological, and even cultural characteristics with
Madagascar, are considered as endemic areas (19).
The surprising high rate of nerve sciatic
compression results likely on local inadequacy In professional
training: indeed, Mahajanga is a port, and naive load handlers are
recruited without any technical skill learning. However, lumbar
disk prolapse is considered as a rather rare condition in Africans
(20). Although the proportion of our stroke cases represent only
one-third of those reported in the majority of African
hospital-based studies (9, 10,21,22), they constitute a real human
and economic burden; the laak of appropriate diagnosis and
therapeutic supplies may explain the high mortality rate, and the
worse functional prognosis.
Global campaign against hypertension, the main
risk factor, has proved to be an efficient method to decrease the
secular trend of strokes (23,24). The infection of the CNS are by
far the most important causes of mortality and mobidity in many
African countries (25). Our data, probably underestimate their real
importance, because of parallel recruitments. The prognosis is
often worsened by the delayed management and by the incapacity in
identifying and treating adequately the infectious agent. Like in
other African series, degenerative diseases are rare, independently
of the low life expectancy (26). Before concluding on a case of
Alzheimer's disease, tertiary syphilis and major depression must be
ruled out.
CONCLUSION
The patterns of neurological diseases in
Mahajanga (Madagascar) are globally similar to that of the majority
of tropical countries. A descriptive epidemiological survey on
general population and epidemiological research on risk factors are
basic to build up an appropriate preventive policy. Without an
endowment of essential diagnosis facilities (EEG, EMG, Echography)
and drugs, curative care would be inefficatious; this failure will
reinforce the negative attitude of the population towards Western
medicine and favour the action of quacks.
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Sciences
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