Health

Strange ‘Nodding Syndrome’ Spreading Among Ugandan Children and Teens

Nodding Syndrome Spreading Rapidly in Ugandan Youth

Nodding syndrome, a little known disease, appears to be spreading at a rapid pace among Ugandan children and teens. The disease is characterized most noticeably by the child nodding off when they begin to eat. Because of this, it hampers the child’s eating and they can suffer malnutrition.

New Scientist reports that the disease is an “unusual form of epilepsy” and in Uganda is mostly affecting the Kitgum, Pader and Gulu districts, but it has also reached Yumbe. There have been 1,000 cases diagnosed in these districts since August of this year, and New Scientist says that of the 18 million suffering the disease worldwide, most are in Africa. New Scientist also reports that it has killed 66 in Pader alone.

Earlier this year, officials in the northern districts of Uganda say that half the children have the disease, which they don’t consider recognized enough by the country as a significant problem:

New Scientist reports that the disease could be linked to the parasitic worm, Onchocerca volvulus, which causes river blindness:

The link is not clear cut, though. “We know that [Onchocerca volvulus] is involved in some way, but it is a little puzzling because [the worm] is fairly common in areas that do not have nodding disease,” says Scott Dowell, who researches paediatric infectious diseases and is lead investigator into nodding syndrome with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here‘s a report from earlier this year explaining the Center for Disease Control’s involvement in researching the disease, which begins affecting children between the ages of 5 and 15:

As of right now, there is no known cure for nodding syndrome, but New Scientist reports that Uganda’s Ministry of Health has begun using anticonvulsants as a treatment.

Comments (103)

1 2 3
  • mikee1
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:14am

    It is called starvation, caused by communist, DUMMYCRAP/RINO-like, BIG GOV. How about a BIG GOV. STUDY FROM HARVARD? LOL.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • bcope01
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:01am

    ZZZZ oh sorry, I must have nodded off. Are there any good stories about blacks? Death by starvation, the President is “lazy”, (those are his words), riots at malls, women set on fire in elevator, babies without fathers, HIV/AIDS, shootings..had enough yet? I don‘t think redistribution of white man’s wealth is going to fix this.

    Report Post » bcope01  
    • silentme63
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:34am

      something is in the water I’m sure… Children should not be nodding this job goes to our friendly neighborhood addict….

      Report Post »  
  • Moozmom
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:36am

    My great nephew suffered from this for a year or so. It’s caused by lingering effects of childhood illnesses such as mumps. After all other causes were ruled out, the docs told the parents that sometimes kids suffer from this syndrome after a childhood illness. Yes, my great nephew had mumps. So, there you go.

    Report Post »  
    • Obeckian1984
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:39am

      Video Games can also be a cause does your nephew play ?

      Report Post » Obeckian1984  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:34am

      So it probobly IS csused by vaccinations.[as was aida which usded monkey syrum/tissue to make vaccines and that’s how aids crossed the species barrier1 of course the american CDC will never in a million yrears admit their scientists have caused such devestation for phumanity. their american arrogance and hubris prevents them from doing so. parents who notice that their once healthy children got a reaction after vaccination and were never the same again are simply irrational . Just like they pull the wool over our eyes about the political -not religious causes for terrorism-they will lie to their own people about the harm from vaacinnations. Now this sleeping syndrome is the latest effect of vaccinations. what a crime-the banality of evil strikes again.

      Report Post »  
    • Cavy from VA
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:34pm

      Rose-Ellen the Airhead … any thing that is “of” civilization … this airhead hates … it’s always the government … or what “we” (USA) may do or not do … NEVER MIND THE COUNTLESS MILLIONS WHO’S LIVES ARE FAR BETTER BECAUSE OF VACCINATIONS!!!! NOOOOOO it‘s because the evil drug makers want to make more money and they don’t “care” about folks. No this fool wants us all to live without all those devices and inventions that make our life better … guess she thinks that if it is good for someone … then we need to give it to them FREE … or subsidised by the government …
      Its sort of like you are on an ocean liner and it starts to sink … only thing is … there is room for everyone except one in the lifeboats … since this one can’t fit then NONE of them should be saved … it won’t be “fair” or “even steven” … Bet she didn’t get any Valentines in grade school and it mentally warped her.
      TROLL ALERT!

      TEA!!

      Report Post » Cavy from VA  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:20pm

      I just thought they were being a bit quick to agree with me.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:30am

    Could be a side-effect of bioweapons research. Africa is a great place to test such things, because no one notices if you kill people.

    Report Post »  
  • timej31
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:00am

    lol Nodding while eating.

    Report Post » timej31  
  • sallyredneck
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:57am

    The EPA would like the people of USA to go back to living as these people with clean air and water not contaminated by any industry. Power plants being shut down will soon allow this type of a future for our citizens to return to these wounderful unpoluted conditions.

    Report Post »  
  • sdharms
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:52am

    And why are the signs in the picture written in English? In case you cant figure it out it is because they KNOW who might come to their aid and it isnt anyone or any country whose native language is not English. THe signs are aimed at U.S.

    Report Post »  
    • burnteye86
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:21am

      you’re right, In one pic a person is wearing an American flag shirt. not a CHINESE flag, not a FRENCH flag, not a CANADIAN flag but an AMERICAN ***.

      Report Post » burnteye86  
    • KRL685
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:04am

      The signs are in English because Ugandans speak English. It is one of their two official languages.

      Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:26am

    This is a result of nothing more than GMO grains that we send to feed the starving. Our food companies are poisoning the food supply with GMO grains, which is the staple of most impovershed Africans. It is showing up here because that is almost their entire diet. It is showing uo in the USA in the form of obesity and Diabetes.

    I HAD type II dianeyes until I stooped eating all grains. Now i do not have it. GMO grains kill. Here is the smoking gun, but our Federal Overlords allow this to happen to the atarving Afrians and us here in the United States. SHAME!

    Our food supply is poison and no one even gives a damn.

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • hillbillyinny
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 6:42am

      Did you mean “type II diabetes”? If you did, not eating grains is one of the ways to control diabetes. Contrary to suggestings and diets featured by the ADA (American Diabetes Association), low carb eating plans can control problems with sugar, not just GMO grains!

      Report Post »  
    • MOLLYPITCHER
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:12am

      @BADDOGGY
      You are right. I think that GMO’s are a huge problem with disease around the world. Particularly in this country. Even though it is more expensive to buy organic, I am working on eliminating GMO‘s from my family’s diet. It is a lot of work because you have to make so much from scratch. That is how we were intended to live anyway.I truly believe in REAL food, not the packaged over processed crap from Wal- Mart. Eat food the way that God made it and you will be much healthier.

      Report Post »  
  • Eyes_of_Deception
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:46am

    This is a racist article referring to blacks…I am offended the blaze would do this!

    Report Post » Eyes_of_Deception  
    • lovethiscountry
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:21am

      you are so ignorant, at least be happy and grateful that you got this news in this wonderful site and not like others news won’t even mentioned, I‘m not white and I don’t have your problem.

      Report Post » lovethiscountry  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:28am

      Eyes…get a life man. You are like all liberals, you see everything in racism. That in fact makes YOU the racist.

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Eyes_of_Deception
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 5:30am

      The blaze is completely saying that all blacks are lazy and rather sleep than work!

      Report Post » Eyes_of_Deception  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:10am

      I am… Offended… that you are Offended!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • staythecourse
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:46am

    vacinations made from aborted cells/tissues: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/medical_ethics/me0044.html

    Report Post »  
  • Rowgue
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 4:34am

    It‘s not a little known disease and it’s not an unusual form of epilepsy. It’s narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is hereditary, which means once it crops up in a tribal community that breed like rabbits within a closed community often consisting largely of ones own family members you would expect it in almost every child. This is what happens in africa with every hereditary condition.

    Report Post »  
    • erica
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:33am

      I have to agree with you. The first thing I thought of was Narcolepsy. Especially if eating would be something the children would get excited about. Getting angry or excited can trigger Cataplexy which often appears as a dropped head.

      Report Post »  
  • BlazingChance
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 3:15am

    A lot of their ancestors have been around far longer than ours, yet they still live like we did back in the 1600′s. A few hundred years have passed, yet they still live like barbarians in mud huts. I hate to say this but some groups of people aren’t capable of living in a modern world. Within 236 years, America basically went from the dark ages to being a superpower. The people of Africa? It‘s been a couple thousand years and they’re still playing with sticks.

    Report Post »  
  • knighttemplar999
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:55am

    Look at those photos, people on every square inch of space. They breed faster than cockroaches.

    Report Post »  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:03am

    I wonder if Biden has it….seen him nod quite a bit when his master is speaking..of course so do I….sooo. Prayers are about the only thing that can help these people in Africa and I am not so sure a prayer would help Biden, so I will just stick with praying for America to survive with new leadrship in the future, being free of (Obama and Biden=leadership…not!!!).

    Report Post »  
  • Drakkhanlord
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:02am

    Search for Side effects from Swine Flu vaccine…will find that it causes these symptoms , along with alot of other fun things…

    The Gates Foundation is heavily involved in pushing vaccines to Africans…think of it as a test run for the World…Depopulation

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZRjEIZd24KI

    Obama/soetoro/brounel SS# 042-68-4425 E-verified Fraud…

    Report Post » Drakkhanlord  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:45am

    Sounds like Bush’s fault to me ;( Actually, where it not for the Bush AIDS initiative with our money and all around charitable efforts millions of these people would be dead today.

    What has Barry done? Jack! @@

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:42am

    Africa has always been a very sad place. This is going to sound very racist, and it is not meant that way, the tribes and areas were not peacfull, idealic places before they were colnized by Europeans. Since they left, it has slowly evolved into chaos and war. Very few African nations have done well for themselves. Only with massive help from other countries can they catch up with medicine and standard of living. Education is the key-and food-, there has been war, and starvation. Until the “get” cooperation and stop killing each other, nothing will change. So much is tribal hatred, evil excuses for governments, and systematically trying to socialize farms that once were productive that are now in hands of those who don’t know how to farm, they will continue to starve and fight. All the good intentions on this planet, and all the help, will avail them nothing, until they can find a way to care for each other and the world get’s together, and throws out the worst governments. We had a Un wanting to topple mid east governments- when will they really do the right thing in Africa? There are a few good governments in Africa-not perfect, but doing better than the rest.

    Report Post »  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:29am

    Harry Reid shows the symptoms.

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
    • petey
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 3:30am

      As do I whenever I hear Harry Reid speak…….zzzzzz…..zzzzzzzz……..

      Report Post »  
    • petey
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 3:32am

      As do I whenever I hear Harry Reid speak……zzzzzzzz……….zzzzzzzzz

      Report Post »  
  • DaveOregon
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:20am

    And thus Africa again stands as a stark reminder the the UN is worth ****! I could farther – but enough.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:24am

      The harder people work to try to make human beings live forever the harder God will work to gum up their chariot wheels.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:27am

      The real issue here is there’s just far too many people walking around with zero fruit because their dust came out of the bottomless pit.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:32am

      When hell gave up the dead the cream from the top was taken first all the way down to the crud sediment in the bottom of the pit.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:33am

      And I hate to break the news to all you demons but the time is at hand to go back to the pit.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:38am

      That’s why Isaiah refers to the Lord as he whose footstool is the “Circle of earth.”

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:44am

      I know I know, all you little demons don‘t really understand the Bible because you don’t really want to understand it because you love all the lies and never actually want the truth. Case in point: when the “spirit” of Elijah went into the cave out of fear they wanted his life – it means he went into a protective hollow so his spirit would not yet get born into a man whereby they could kill him with lies, and half truths after he was born into the earth. But, then God called him forth to be born into the world.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:01am

      And because of the lies and half truths that Elijah avoids – it is said that Elijah doesn’t drink the strong drink. Of course you, you, think it means he doesn’t drink liquor. Oh how stupid!

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:06am

      Yeah that’s it, the Bible is such a weak book that it’s going to address beer drinking, and Chardonnay drinking.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:18am

    Holy crap, Obama must send billions immediatly…. To stop the nodding, enter BONO in blue sunglasses , on a crusade to stop the nodding, the UN must demand billoons from America , to stop the nodding…. And we can just borrow it from China, we aint never gonna pay those suckers back anyway !!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • F.O.S. DIAPERHEAD
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 9:44am

      We need to fight the nodding here first. Same disease, only the American version occurs while watching Obama play Robbin fo da Hood.

      Report Post » F.O.S. DIAPERHEAD  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:13am

    People still haven’t figured out yet that God wants your soul to live, not your skin and bones.

    Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:09am

    There’s going to be all sorts of nifty plagues, especially when scientists do things such as bringing Woolly Mammoth’s back to life, and many more old breeding grounds of ancient diseases.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:10am

      For every disease scientists cure two will replace them.

      Report Post »  
  • Nigel2
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:03am

    It is only a matter of time before the largest dyeoff in human history strikes this continent. It will most likely be the year Americas crops fail or are greatly reduced due to ??

    Report Post » Nigel2  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:20am

      @nigel
      Due to….. More Government regulation on Americas farmers……

      Report Post »  
    • knighttemplar999
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 2:54am

      American farmers are utter leeches sucking on the tit of big government, they get billions in subsides.

      Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:59am

    Could it be a plague??

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:54am

    Another disease of poverty. Malnutrition, lack of potable water, hygene, are all the causes of this.

    Report Post »  
    • jdog777
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:03am

      … and all of these resources are available and controlled by the war lords and political elite. Hundreds of Billions are sourced to these countries… lost in administration and greed.

      Report Post »  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love