Management of epilepsy patients in Batamariba district, Togo

Objective - To describe the feasibility of managing epilepsy in a rural setting in a developing country. Methods - The project comprised four phases. After a study of the perception of epilepsy, we conducted a sensitization campaign in November 2001. The third phase was a survey, to detect epilepsy patients, in which 6249 persons were asked to complete a questionnaire. Persons with epilepsy were then examined, treated, mainly with phenobarbital, and followed up. Results - The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated to be 15.7 parts per thousand. Ninety-two patients took antiepileptic drugs from 1 February 2002. By November 2005, 92.7% of all treated patients had achieved complete suppression of seizures, and 7.3% had reduced seizure frequency. Conclusions - Despite the stigma attached to epilepsy in many developing countries, it can be controlled by relatively simple measures. At present, 601 epilepsy patients are being followed up at the Nadoba health centre, where epilepsy is now the second commonest disease.