Abstract
Nodding syndrome (NS) is a debilitating yet often neglected neurological disease affecting thousands of children in several sub-Saharan African countries. The cause of NS remains unknown, and effective treatment options are lacking. Moreover, knowledge regarding NS is scarce and is based on a limited number of publications, with no comprehensive overview published to date. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to summarise the current evidence and identify existing knowledge gaps in order to help clinicians, scientists, and policymakers develop guidelines for prioritising this severe condition. We searched the Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Global Health Library databases in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping review guidance and in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and methodology for a scoping review, using keywords describing NS. We then extracted and presented the original data regarding the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of NS, as well as community perceptions and the psychosocial and economic impact of NS. Out of 1470 identified articles, a total of 69 were included in this scoping review. Major gaps exist in understanding the aetiology and pathogenesis of NS. Future research is urgently needed not only to address these gaps, but also to study the treatment options, epidemiology, and psychosocial and economic impacts of NS. Innovative interventions and rehabilitation programmes designed to address the psychosocial and economic burdens associated with NS are also urgently needed.
Highlights
IntroductionNodding syndrome (NS) is a devastating but often neglected neurological condition that affects thousands of individuals in remote and resource-poor regions in several countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with major public health, psychosocial, and economic consequences [1–4]
Nodding syndrome (NS) is a devastating but often neglected neurological condition that affects thousands of individuals in remote and resource-poor regions in several countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with major public health, psychosocial, and economic consequences [1–4].Our current knowledge regarding NS is based on data dispersed among scientific articles, viewpoints, health reports, and case reports; no comprehensive systematic review of NS has been published to date
The first reports of NS cases came from southern Tanzania between the 1930s and the 1960s [10]
Summary
Nodding syndrome (NS) is a devastating but often neglected neurological condition that affects thousands of individuals in remote and resource-poor regions in several countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with major public health, psychosocial, and economic consequences [1–4]. Our current knowledge regarding NS is based on data dispersed among scientific articles, viewpoints, health reports, and case reports; no comprehensive systematic review of NS has been published to date. A few reviews do exist [1,5,6], there is a need for an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of the existing evidence. The aim of this scoping review was to comprehensively identify, categorise, and summarise the most up-to-date evidence and knowledge gaps regarding NS in order to help clinicians, scientists, and policymakers prioritise this severe yet neglected disease
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