Just as its name suggests,the disease is called so because it causes pathological nodding in its victims.Wikipedia notes that the disease emerged in Sudan in the 1980's.The disease is fatal and now it is luming amongst the children and young adults(5-15 years) of the Ugandan districts of Pader,Lira.Kitgum and Lamwo .A cause for the disease has not yet been identified.However, it is believd to be connected to infestations of the parasitic worm Onchocera Volvulus ,a nematode carried by the black fly and cause river blindness. Without the cause being known , a cure for the disease has also not been found.Since the disease is similar to epilepsy,anti-convulsants are being used in treating the signs and symptoms.Even traditional approaches such as rites and rituals like slaughtering goats to appease spirits have been used.
Peter Spencer,a neurotoxicologist who has investigated the disease states that upon presentation,of food,the victim will start nodding in a continuous pendulous nod.The disease also presents symptoms of stunted growth in an affected child,stunted growth of the brain thus mental retardation.
The parents of the children affected by the disease are getting extremely tired of watching their chidren waste away.Dr.Emmanuel Tenywa, an WHO team leader in the northern part fo Uganda says that parents have thrown thier children on the streets while others have let them die because they really do not know what to do.
I urge the Ugandan government to put in extra effort in helping the already affected families before the disaster can spread out to surrounding areas.
