Antiepileptic Treatments in Developing Countries

Title:Antiepileptic Treatments in Developing Countries

Volume: 23 Issue: 37

Author(s): Jeremy Jost*, Athanase Millogo and Pierre-Marie Preux

Affiliation:

• INSERM, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, UMR_S 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, F-87000 Limoges,France

Keywords: Epilepsy, developing countries, antiepileptics drugs, treatment gap, stigma, patients.

Abstract: Background: Epilepsy affects about 70 million people worldwide, nearly 90% of whom live in developing countries. Epilepsy is surrounded by myths and stigma in these countries. Discrimination and social stigmatization are difficult obstacles for patients to overcome. Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards epilepsy are often inadequate, even sometimes totally false and then dangerous.

Methods: The goal was to present the situation and analyse the determinants of using antiepileptic drugs in developing countries.

Results: The treatment gap exceeds 75% in most low-income countries, and could be even higher in rural areas. Reasons for that are low accessibility, availability, and/or affordability, lack of trained medical personnel and the associated beliefs and stigma. The interactions between drugs or due to other factors, such as malnutrition, are frequent. A long-lasting treatment is not usual for populations in developing countries due to cultural beliefs. The traditional healers are the first ones consulted in such a context, then delaying the entry in the “modern” medical care system.

Conclusion: Information and education campaigns are mandatory among the general population and among the medical and paramedical staff to make progress on the management of epilepsy in developing countries.

Cite this article as:

Jost Jeremy *, Millogo Athanase and Preux Pierre-Marie, Antiepileptic Treatments in Developing Countries, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (37) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170809103202

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170809103202	Print ISSN 1381-6128
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1873-4286