Konzo

For the Ethiopian ethnic group, see Konso people. For other uses, see Konjo (disambiguation).
Konzo
A boy affected by konzo displaying the typical gait. The upper motor neuron is the suspected neurodamage site.
SpecialtyNeurology

Konzo[1][2] is an epidemic paralytic disease occurring among hunger-stricken rural populations in Africa where a diet dominated by insufficiently processed cassava[3] results in simultaneous malnutrition and high dietary cyanide intake.[4][5] Konzo was first described by Giovanni Trolli in 1938[6] who compiled the observations from eight doctors working in the Kwango area of the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo).

  1. ^ World Health Organization (1996). "Konzo, a distinct type of upper motor neuron disease" (PDF). Weekly Epidemiological Record (in English and French). 71. Geneva: 225–232.
  2. ^ Tylleskär T, et al. (1997). "Konzo - the walk of the camelion". YouTube (8 minutes film). Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  3. ^ Harford, Tim (September 4, 2019). "How do people learn to cook a poisonous plant safely?". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. ^ Cliff, J.; Martensson, J.; Lundquist, P.; Rosling, H.; Sorbo, B. (1985). "Association of high cyanide and low sulphur intake in cassava induced spastic paraparesis". Lancet. 326 (8466): 1211–1213. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(85)90742-1. PMID 2866292. S2CID 206001945.
  5. ^ Howlett, W. P.; Brubaker, G. R.; Mlingi, N.; Rosling, H. (1990). "Konzo, an Epidemic Upper Motor Neuron Disease Studied in Tanzania". Brain. 113: 223–235. doi:10.1093/brain/113.1.223. PMID 2302534.
  6. ^ Trolli, Giovanni (1938). "Résumé des observations réunies, au Kwango, au sujet de deux affections d'origine indeterminee: Paraplégie spastique épidémique, 'Konzo'des indigènes du Kwango" (in French). Fonds Reine Elisabeth, Brussels. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)