Epilepsy in transition from child care to adult service: a missing link in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disease which predominantly affects children and young adults. The disease is highly stigmatised and transition from child care to adult services is not routine in many low- and middle-income countries. Where a treatment system follows routines which cannot be sustained in such countries because of specialised manpower challenges, it becomes imperative that appropriate care models be sought for patients whose seizures fail to remit in childhood. In teaching hospitals, well-organised, multidisciplinary meetings and a planned transfer between paediatric and adult neurologists will be feasible. However, an alternative model is advocated at the community level where the majority of the patients reside which involves task shifting to general practitioners and community healthcare workers. The latter can organise home visits to ensure management compliance. This will ensure better seizure outcomes and a good quality of life for epileptic patients.