1. [Management of epilepsy in developing countries]
- Author
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Tran, Duc Si, Ngoungou, Edgard Brice, Quet, Fabrice, Preux, Pierre-Marie, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale et Comparée (NETEC), Génomique, Environnement, Immunité, Santé, Thérapeutique (GEIST FR CNRS 3503)-Institut d'Epidémiologie Neurologique et de Neurologie Tropicale-Université de Limoges (UNILIM), Département de Parasitologie, Mycologie et Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine-Université de Libreville, Laboratoire de Biostatistique et d'Informatique Médicale, Université de Limoges (UNILIM), Service de l'Information Médicale et de l'Évaluation [CHU Limoges] (SIME), and CHU Limoges
- Subjects
MESH: Humans ,Epilepsy ,MESH: Phenobarbital ,MESH: Anticonvulsants ,MESH: Health Manpower ,MESH: Epilepsy ,MESH: Medicine, Traditional ,Phenobarbital ,Humans ,[SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie ,Anticonvulsants ,Health Workforce ,Medicine, Traditional ,Public Health ,Healthcare Disparities ,MESH: Public Health ,MESH: Developing Countries ,MESH: Healthcare Disparities ,Developing Countries - Abstract
International audience; Epilepsy is a major public health problem in developing countries. In addition to the high prevalence of epilepsy in some regions, there is an acute shortage of trained personnel, clinical equipment, and antiepileptic drugs. As a result of these problems, most patients do not have access to adequate treatment. Despite wake-up calls from the WHO, LICE, and BIE in 2001 using the slogan "Bring epilepsy out of the shadows", few national epilepsy control programs have been implemented in developing countries. Nevertheless reports describing several recent pilot projects have demonstrated that effective screening and management of the disease is feasible through primary health care systems. Phenobarbital should be the first choice for treatment of epilepsy in developing countries.
- Published
- 2008