Abstract
A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pindi located 115 kilometers from Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo to characterize a local school epidemic involving paralysis of the lower extremities, identify risk factors, and establish differential diagnosis with konzo and spastic paralysis related to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Data was obtained using a qualitative approach based on records, interviews, focus group technique, and neurological examination. Blood tests using the ELISA and western blot tests were performed to detect HTLV-1 and HIV l and 2. A total of 41 cases of paralysis were observed between 1994 and 1998. All patients were female and most (n=28) were between the ages of 16 and 20 at the time of the study. The majority of cases were recorded in 1998 (31 prevalent cases and 16 incidents). Epidemiological data, clinical findings, and laboratory tests suggested that the etiology was mass hysteria with somatic conversion rather than toxic or viral causes in most cases. The psychosocial environment played an important role in the spread of the epidemic. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of the psychosocial environment in the occurrence of mass hysteria and support use of integrated health programs in developing countries.
| Original language | French |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 378-382 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Medecine Tropicale |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Black Africa
- HTLV-1
- Konzo
- Mass hysteria
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Coexistence hysterie collective, konzo et virus HTLV-1 en republique democratique du congo. / Tshala-Katumbay, Daniel.
In: Medecine Tropicale, Vol. 59, No. 4, 1999, p. 378-382.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Coexistence hysterie collective, konzo et virus HTLV-1 en republique democratique du congo
AU - Tshala-Katumbay, Daniel
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pindi located 115 kilometers from Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo to characterize a local school epidemic involving paralysis of the lower extremities, identify risk factors, and establish differential diagnosis with konzo and spastic paralysis related to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Data was obtained using a qualitative approach based on records, interviews, focus group technique, and neurological examination. Blood tests using the ELISA and western blot tests were performed to detect HTLV-1 and HIV l and 2. A total of 41 cases of paralysis were observed between 1994 and 1998. All patients were female and most (n=28) were between the ages of 16 and 20 at the time of the study. The majority of cases were recorded in 1998 (31 prevalent cases and 16 incidents). Epidemiological data, clinical findings, and laboratory tests suggested that the etiology was mass hysteria with somatic conversion rather than toxic or viral causes in most cases. The psychosocial environment played an important role in the spread of the epidemic. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of the psychosocial environment in the occurrence of mass hysteria and support use of integrated health programs in developing countries.
AB - A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pindi located 115 kilometers from Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo to characterize a local school epidemic involving paralysis of the lower extremities, identify risk factors, and establish differential diagnosis with konzo and spastic paralysis related to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Data was obtained using a qualitative approach based on records, interviews, focus group technique, and neurological examination. Blood tests using the ELISA and western blot tests were performed to detect HTLV-1 and HIV l and 2. A total of 41 cases of paralysis were observed between 1994 and 1998. All patients were female and most (n=28) were between the ages of 16 and 20 at the time of the study. The majority of cases were recorded in 1998 (31 prevalent cases and 16 incidents). Epidemiological data, clinical findings, and laboratory tests suggested that the etiology was mass hysteria with somatic conversion rather than toxic or viral causes in most cases. The psychosocial environment played an important role in the spread of the epidemic. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of the psychosocial environment in the occurrence of mass hysteria and support use of integrated health programs in developing countries.
KW - Black Africa
KW - HTLV-1
KW - Konzo
KW - Mass hysteria
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0012469043&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0012469043&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 10816753
AN - SCOPUS:0012469043
VL - 59
SP - 378
EP - 382
JO - Medecine Tropicale
JF - Medecine Tropicale
SN - 0025-682X
IS - 4
ER -