Epidemiology of tropical nutritional neuropathy in Nigerians

Osuntokun, B. O.

doi:10.1016/0035-9203(71)90156-8

Cited by 40 publications

(30 citation statements)

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“…Otitis media was found to be the most com mon etiological factor. Deafness associated with neuropathy and optic atrophy due to cassava consumption was described in Tan zania [24] and Nigeria [25]. This cause of deafness, does not exist in Ethiopia, because cassava as a food item is unknown in the country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-Based Study of Neurological Disorders in Rural Central Ethiopia

Tekle-Haimanot

Abebe²,

Gebremariam³

et al. 1990

Neuroepidemiology

134

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Between 1986 and 1988 a door-to-door survey was conducted on a stable rural population of 60,820 in central Ethiopia. Trained lay health workers made a complete census and identified cases with symptoms -and signs of neurological disorders, using specially designed questionnaires which, in a previous pilot study, were found to have a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 85%. Neurological disorders in the rural population were epilepsy, postpoliomyelitis paralysis, mental retardation, peripheral neuropathy (mainly due to leprosy), and deaf-mutism with prevalence rates (cases/100,000 population) of 520, 240, 170,150 and 130, respectively. The prevalence rates of the other less common neurological disorders were 62 for hemiparesis (15 of which were for cerebrovascular accidents), 20 for cerebral palsy, 16 for optic atrophy, 12 for perceptive deafness, 10 for tropical spastic paraparesis, 7 for Parkinson''s disease and 5 for motor neuron disease, ataxia and chorea/athetosis. Among related non-neurological conditions, blindness, locomotor disability and deafness were predominant. The significance and role of such a neuroepidemiological study in laying the strategies for the prevention of neurological disorders and rehabilitation of patients are discussed in the context of a developing country.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-Based Study of Neurological Disorders in Rural Central Ethiopia

Tekle-Haimanot

Abebe²,

Gebremariam³

et al. 1990

Neuroepidemiology

134

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“…Cassava is consumed in large quantities throughout the tropics and provides a major source of calories to over 300 million people [1]. In Africa, the geographic distribution of TAN generally paralleled with the high amount of cassava consumed [10,17,18,19]. Moreover, the plasma thiocyanate level, an indicator of cyanide intake, was shown to be significantly higher in TAN patients from Mozambique [17], Nigeria [3] and Tanzania [18] when compared to normal control subjects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical and Etiological Profile of Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy in Kerala, South India

et al. 2008

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Background/Aims: Very little is known about the occurrence of tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) from southern India. This study describes the clinical spectrum of TAN from Kerala, southern India, and explores its etiology. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and laboratory profile of 40 TAN cases diagnosed in a tertiary referral center in central Kerala. We enquired the consumption of cassava foods and estimated the thiocyanate levels in the serum, urine and sural nerve. Results: The notable demographic characteristics included female preponderance, peak age at onset in the thirties, rural residence and poor socioeconomic status. The diet in the majority comprised a large amount of tapioca, which is low in protein. In addition to sensory peripheral neuropathy, 90% had decreased hearing, 50% had decreased vision, and 25% had spasticity involving the lower extremities. None had signs of overt vitamin deficiencies or malabsorption syndrome. Compared to the controls, the serum, urine and sural nerve thiocyanate levels were significantly elevated in the patients. With cessation of cassavaintake and better nutrition, improvement in the neurological disability occurred in the majority. Conclusions: This study, for the first time, provides evidence for the occurrence of TAN in south India and the possible etiological role of cassava intake.

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“…1) based on previous reports of being endemic for TAN 13±15 and consumption of cassava foods 9,13,17 . Area A included communities in south-western Nigeria where TAN was reported to be endemic and where consumption of cassava foods was high 9,14,15 ; area B included communities in south-western Nigeria where TAN was reported to be absent and where consumption of cassava foods was low 9,17 ; area C included some communities in northern Nigeria where TAN had not been described and where cassava is not the staple. The selected communities were situated along the axis of previous community studies for TAN in south-western Nigeria from Epe, a semi-urban community in the coastal area, to Oyo, a town further north.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is estimated that about 500 million people in the tropics and about 200 million people in Africa depend on cassava as a staple 8 . Several neurological syndromes seen in the tropics, like tropical ataxic neuropathy 9 (TAN), tropical amblyopia 10 and konzo 11 , are attributed to cyanide released when cassava foods are eaten 3 . However, the intake of cassava foods almost exclusive of other foods in affected communities makes it difficult to entirely attribute causation to cyanide from cassava.…”

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confidence: 99%