Browsing by Author "Chacha, Mwita"

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The impact of human cysticercosis in Northern Tanzania
(University of Dar es Salaam, 2014-04) Mwang’onde, Beda John; Chacha, Mwita; Nkwengulila, Gamba
Human cysticercosis (HCC) is an emerging threat to public health in endemic resource poor countries and is one of the main causes of late onset epilepsy. The epidemiology, public health and socioecomic impacts of HCC in northern Tanzania, an area with high incidences of epilepsy, is reported. Sera of 1051individuals from 25 villages in Mbulu district were tested for cysticercosis circulating antibodies using Cysticercus WB IgG assay. A subset (25 persons) of cysticercosis seropositives were scanned for NCC by cCT scan. Questionnaires, observations and docummentary reviews were used to obtain information on public health and social costs. The Disability Adjusted Life Year was used to estimate the health burden of HCC. About 16.3% of the participants were positive to cysticercosis circulating antibodies. Of the 25 cysticercosis seropositive persons, 76% had single to multiple NCC suggestive lesions. Of the 19 persons found with NCC suggestive lesions, 14 (56%) had epileptic siesures. The direct and indirect losses due to Taenia solium cysticercosis was US $ 1.37 million of which 53.6% was due to HCC. The monetary burden per case of HCC amounted to US $ 209 per year. The average number of DALYs imposed due to HCC was 2.2 per 1000 population per year. The prevalence and the impact of HCC in Mbulu district is of increasing concern and calls for immediate deployment of intervention measures.