Neuroscience

Using electrodes to record electrical activity of the brain for diagnosis of epilepsyThe Neuroscience programme in Kilifi, Kenya aims to investigate the causes, the consequences and burden of neurological conditions in a rural tropical area, mainly affecting children. Children with neurological conditions are assessed, either on admission to hospital, after discharge from hospital or in epidemiological surveys in the community.

Clinical pathophysiology studies are conducted on children admitted with acute seizures, malaria, bacterial meningitis and neonatal conditions such as sepsis, jaundice and tetanus. Outpatients with HIV infection and epilepsy are studied. Further studies on the genetic susceptibility and immunological basis of these conditions are determined. The neurocognitive consequences of these conditions are assessed by cultural appropriate psychological assessment and event related potentials. The follow up of cohorts of children with these conditions and epidemiological surveys allow us to assess the burden of neurological conditions in this community.

Specific studies include

• Case control study of children admitted with acute seizures
• Randomised control trial of fosphenytoin to prevent seizures in children admitted with an acute encephalopathy
• Use of adjunctive therapy such as albumin, pentoxifylline and magnesium sulphate in children admitted with cerebral malaria
• Role of neuronal antibodies in causing seizures
• Role of viruses causing encephalopathies in children admitted to rural hospitals in Africa
• Diagnosis and outcome of bacterial meningitis in district hospitals
• Causes and consequences of neonatal jaundice
• Risk factors and role of magnesium sulphate in the neonatal tetanus
• Causes and consequences of neonatal sepsis
• Pattern of neuro-cognitive involvement in children infected with HIV
• Neuro-cognitive outcome of children admitted with severe malaria, pneumococcal meningitis and acute encephalopathies
• Role of event related potential (ERP) in assessing brain damage following malaria, bacterial meningitis and other acute encephalopathies
• Role of ERPs in HIV encephalopathy in children
• Prevelance and risk factors of neurological impairment in children
• Prevalence, incidence and mortality of epilepsy in adults and older children