@article{fdi:010060793,
  title = {{C}ase-control studies on the relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy : systematic review and meta-analysis},
  author = {{K}aiser, {C}. and {P}ion, {S}{\'e}bastien and {B}oussinesq, {M}ichel},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjective: {A} systematic review and meta-analysis of all available case-control studies on the relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy. {B}ecause age and level of onchocerciasis endemicity in the area of residence are major determinants for infection, an additional analysis was performed, restricted to studies achieving control of these confounding factors. {D}ata sources: {M}edical databases, the "{A}frican {N}eurology {D}atabase, {I}nstitute of {N}euroepidemiology and {T}ropical {N}eurology, {L}imoges," reference lists of relevant articles, commercial search engines, up to {M}ay 2012. {M}ethods: {W}e searched for studies examining infection status with {O}nchocerca volvulus in persons with epilepsy ({PWE}) and without epilepsy ({PWOE}) providing data suitable for the calculation of pooled odds ratios ({OR}p) and/or standardized mean differences ({SMD}) using random-effects models. {R}esults: {E}leven studies providing data of qualitative skin biopsies for diagnosis of onchocerciasis were identified. {C}ombined analysis on the total sample of 876 {PWE} and 4712 {PWOE} resulted in an {OR}p of 2.49 (95% confidence interval (95% {CI}): 1.61-3.86, p<0.001). {W}hen this analysis was restricted to those studies achieving control for age, residence and sex (367 {PWE}, 624 {PWOE}), an {OR}p of 1.29 (95% {CI}: 0.93-1.79; p = 0.139) was found. {P}resence of nodules for diagnosis of onchocerciasis was analyzed in four studies (225 {PWE}, 189 {PWOE}; {OR}p 1.74; 95% {CI}: 0.94-3.20; p < 0.076), including two studies of the restricted analysis (106 {PWE}, 106 {PWOE}; {OR}p 2.81; 95% {CI}: 1.57-5.00; p < 0.001). {O}ne study examined quantitative microfilariae counts in patients without preceding microfilaricidal treatment and demonstrated significantly higher counts in {PWE} than in {PWOE}. {I}nterpretation: {O}ur results strengthen the hypothesis that, in onchocerciasis foci, epilepsy and infection with {O}. volvulus are associated. {A}nalysis of indicators giving information on infection intensity, namely nodule palpation and quantitative microfilaria count in untreated patients, support the hypothesis that intensity of infection with {O}. volvulus is involved in the etiology of epilepsy.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {7},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {e2147},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0002147},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060793},
}