Konzo

Konzo is the name of a nervous disease associated with incomplete paralysis that is frequently observed in hungry regions of Africa (especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Central African Republic). The scientific name is: endemic spastic paraparesis .

history

The disease was first described in 1938 by the Italian doctor Giovanni Trolli, who summarized the observations of eight colleagues who were then working in the Belgian colony of the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)). Trolli took over the disease name "Konzo" from the Yaka language of the natives. The word can roughly be translated as "legs bound". Hans Rosling was in Mozambique with a team of doctors in 1981 to investigate why so many children in one village were paralyzed. He found that this was mainly due to insufficient watering of the staple food cassava ( manioc ). As a result, poisonous cyan sugar compounds (especially linamarine ) remain in the food, which above a certain concentration damage nerve cells in the spinal cord . In the long term, this leads to incomplete paralysis, especially of the lower extremities , which leads to deformities in the legs and feet. For these research results, Rosling received the Ph.D. - Awarded doctoral degree from Uppsala University .

Clinical picture

The disease mainly affects children and women. At the onset of the disease, most patients initially show generalized weakness, are bedridden and have muscle cramps. Occasionally, visual disturbances and language difficulties also occur, but these usually disappear again later. The incomplete paralysis then sets in symmetrically, with the legs being more affected than the arms. The resulting walking disability is permanent, but usually does not increase any further. In some patients, however, the symptoms of the disease can suddenly worsen. Typically, patients stand or walk on the ball of their toes with stiff legs and have muscle contractures, especially in the ankle area. In severe cases, blindness can occur.

frequency

In 2009 around 7,000 sick people were officially reported, but it is assumed that most cases are not registered at all. In 2002 it was estimated that over 100,000 people were affected in the Congo alone.

treatment

There is no known treatment that leads to complete resolution of the paralysis. However, patients can benefit considerably from rehabilitation measures and walking aids.

prevention

Intensive instruction of the residents in the correct preparation and, in particular, sufficient watering of cassava before consumption works best. In 2010 in the DR Congo in 13 endangered villages with around 10,000 inhabitants, such campaigns were carried out so successfully that no new diseases occurred. By reducing the duration of the intervention from 18 months at the beginning to only 9 months later, the costs could finally be reduced to 16 dollars per person without the result deteriorating.

Web links

• Acute and chronic hydrocyanic acid poisoning. 
• Konzo. In: Lexicon of Neuroscience. 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hans Rosling: Factfulness. Ulstein Verlag, 2018, p. 295f.
2. ↑ T. Tylleskär et al .: Konzo: a distinct disease entity with selective upper motor neuron damage. In: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Volume 56/1993, pp. 638-643.
3. ↑ Peter Kaiser: Endemic spastic paraparesis (Konzo). In: Der Nervenarzt, Vol. 73, 10/2002, pp. 946-951.
4. ↑ Hans Rosling: Factfulness. Ulstein Verlag, 2018.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !