Nodding Disease

Today, I read an article about nodding disease because I was attracted by the article’s title. After reading this article, I felt so sad for the children who have this tropical disease. Nodding disease is a mentally and physically disabling disease that affects children,typically between the ages of 5 and 15. The most infected country is southern Sudan.

Nodding disease is characterized by episodes of repetitive nodding of the head, with progression to generalized tonicclonic seizures, mental deterioration and physical incapacity. During seizures the children lose consciousness and they may hurt themselves, for example fall into fire or drown in rivers. Unfortunately, there is no treatment yet. WHO suggested that some low-income countries need to improve their water sanitation, because some parasites live in the contaminated water. It is difficult to improve water quality because low income countries have no money.

I thought some points related to nodding disease. First, income and social status influence treating nodding disease. In low income countries, people are poor, so they cannot afford medication to treat symptoms. Also, children are malnutrition which causes they have difficulties recover from the disease. Second, health services influence diseases’ cure. Limited health services in low income countries and people are difficult to access health services, for example, people who live at rural area, the transportation issues and locations should be considered. Third, personal behaviour and coping skills are also influence disease progress. Nodding disease begins when children are fed the local diet of beans. Western food do not affect the disease.

In conclusion, local health workers should be trained in the identification of the syndrome and how to support patients psychologically and socially. The government should be focus on preventing deterioration of the cases and strengthening surveillance.