P S Spencer1, V S Palmer, L Jilek-Aall. 1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine; Senior Scientist, Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, and Director, Global Health Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, L356, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Repetitive involuntary head nodding was first reported in the 1960s in the Wapogoro tribe of Tanzania. OBJECTIVES: We describe the natural history of head nodding in the Wapogoro tribe, with special reference to the earliest reported dates of onset. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data from 150 historical patients seen between 1960 and 1971. RESULTS: Head nodding with or without grand mal convulsions was present in 33/150 (∼20%) cases, was mostly familial and equally distributed by gender. Age at onset of head nodding ranged from 2-22 years (mean: ∼10 years) in the period 1934-1962. Head nodding preceded onset of grand mal convulsions by up to 12 months, and motor and psychomotor deficits indicative of brain damage developed with time. Fourteen of the 33 cases died at 13-39 years of age (mean: ∼20 years) while nineteen aged 16-28 years (mean: ∼16 years) were still alive. CONCLUSION: Historical accounts of head nodding (amesinzia kichwa, Swahili) among the Wapogoro tribe fit the August 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) case definition of probable Nodding Syndrome. Reported to have existed in this population for at least 80 years, Nodding Syndrome is a progressive seizure disorder that leads to generalized convulsions (kifafa), brain damage and death.
BACKGROUND:Repetitive involuntary head nodding was first reported in the 1960s in the Wapogoro tribe of Tanzania. OBJECTIVES: We describe the natural history of head nodding in the Wapogoro tribe, with special reference to the earliest reported dates of onset. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data from 150 historical patients seen between 1960 and 1971. RESULTS: Head nodding with or without grand mal convulsions was present in 33/150 (∼20%) cases, was mostly familial and equally distributed by gender. Age at onset of head nodding ranged from 2-22 years (mean: ∼10 years) in the period 1934-1962. Head nodding preceded onset of grand mal convulsions by up to 12 months, and motor and psychomotor deficits indicative of brain damage developed with time. Fourteen of the 33 cases died at 13-39 years of age (mean: ∼20 years) while nineteen aged 16-28 years (mean: ∼16 years) were still alive. CONCLUSION: Historical accounts of head nodding (amesinzia kichwa, Swahili) among the Wapogoro tribe fit the August 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) case definition of probable Nodding Syndrome. Reported to have existed in this population for at least 80 years, Nodding Syndrome is a progressive seizure disorder that leads to generalized convulsions (kifafa), brain damage and death.
Authors: J K Tumwine; K Vandemaele; S Chungong; M Richer; M Anker; Y Ayana; M L Opoka; D N Klaucke; A Quarello; P S Spencer Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: Andrea S Winkler; Katrin Friedrich; Michael Meindl; Aslam Kidunda; Amir Nassri; Louise Jilek-Aall; William Matuja; Erich Schmutzhard Journal: Trop Doct Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 0.731
Authors: P S Spencer; K Vandemaele; M Richer; V S Palmer; S Chungong; M Anker; Y Ayana; M L Opoka; B N Klaucke; A Quarello; J K Tumwine Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: Andrea S Winkler; Katrin Friedrich; Rebekka König; Michael Meindl; Raimund Helbok; Iris Unterberger; Thaddaeus Gotwald; Jaffer Dharsee; Sandeep Velicheti; Aslam Kidunda; Louise Jilek-Aall; William Matuja; Erich Schmutzhard Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2008-05-21 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Anelia Dietmann; Bernd Wallner; Rebekka König; Katrin Friedrich; Bettina Pfausler; Florian Deisenhammer; Andrea Griesmacher; Christoph Seger; William Matuja; Louise JilekAall; Andrea S Winkler; Erich Schmutzhard Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: Kathrin Föger; Gina Gora-Stahlberg; James Sejvar; Emilio Ovuga; Louise Jilek-Aall; Erich Schmutzhard; Christoph Kaiser; Andrea S Winkler Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-02-09
Authors: Michael S Pollanen; Sylvester Onzivua; Janice Robertson; Paul M McKeever; Francis Olawa; David L Kitara; Amanda Fong Journal: Acta Neuropathol Date: 2018-09-15 Impact factor: 17.088
Authors: Raquel Valdes Angues; Austen Suits; Valerie S Palmer; Caesar Okot; Robert A Okot; Concy Atonywalo; Suzanne K Gazda; David L Kitara; Moka Lantum; Peter S Spencer Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2018-06-15