Editorial: Nodding Disease or syndrome: What is the way forward?

Nodding disease or syndrome is one of those conditions that recently appeared to be of public health concern in some countries in Africa. The disease has been reported to occur in South Sudan, Tanzania, northern Uganda and Liberia. In South Sudan the disease is mainly concentrated along Yei River. Nodding syndrome is a mentally and physically disabling disease that affects children, typically between the ages of 5 and 15. The 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 fall into fire or hurt themselves. They usually drop out of school because of deterioration in cognitive function and inability to cope with the school environment.