Last group of nodding disease children discharged

Mar 29, 2012

The last group of children suffering from nodding disease has been discharged from Mulago national referral hospital.

By Violet Nabatanzi

The last group of children suffering from nodding disease has been discharged from Mulago national referral hospital.

"They are expected to report to the treatment centres for follow up documents before returning to their homes," the hospital's spokesperson Dan Kimosho said.

The hospital will continue to work closely with the ministry of health to monitor the affected children but from the established centres.

One of the children who had a problem of brain trauma underwent a successful operation, Kimosho confirmed.

Before this last group, Mulago had discharged about 20 children who were suffering from the same disease.

The screening and treatment centres are in Kitgum, Pader and the other affected districts.

 Nodding disease is believed to be a new type of disorder characterized by head-nodding episodes that consist of the repetitive dropping forward of the head. 

So far over 3000 children, mainly boys between the ages of five and 15 have been affected with 170 reported dead. The germ which causes river blindness also causes epilepsy in children.  

According to research by the World health Organization (WHO) the affected region lies within an area where river blindness is prevalent.

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