Mysterious Nodding Disease Outbreak Devastating Families in Northern Uganda
Posted on March 20, 2012
CNN reports that a mysterious disease, named nodding disease, is afflicting children in Ugana. The Wikipedia entry says the disease was first identified in Sudan in the 1960s. The disease appears to only affect children. More than 3,000 children have come down with the disease during the Uganda outbreak since 2009. Over 150 of them have died.
The disease is known for its nodding seizure, which often begins when the affected children see food or when the weather changes. Children will start nodding rapidly and then go into a severe seizure or freeze up. It is a progressive, debilitating and fatal syndrome. Another trait of the illness is that children with the disease tend to wander off.
The cause of the disease is unknown, but CNN reports that WHO officials say 93% of cases are found in areas known to be inhabited by the parasitic worm Onchocerca Volvulus.
The mother in this video from CNN has two children suffering from nodding disease. She has to tie them up when she leaves or they will wander off. Take a look: