Did you know eating too much raw cassava can paralyze you and affect your memory?
Name
Konzo (means “bound legs” in the Yaka language) aka mantakassa
Transmission
- Though it is not an infectious disease, konzo is a neglected disease and has been known to cause outbreaks and epidemics
- Konzo is a severe crippling disease caused by consumption of unprocessed bitter cassava which has high cyanide levels. Cassava is the third largest source of carbohydrates and a major staple food in tropical Africa
- Konzo is common during times of conflict or severe food shortage as people subsist on poorly processed cassava and its leaves
- Children older than 3 years old and women in the fertile age group are more affected than adult males
Geography
Sub-saharan Africa
- Outbreaks have been reported in DR Congo, Cameroon, Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania, and Central African Republic
Incubation Period
Uncertain
Signs and Symptoms
Within the first 4-6 hours of consuming unprocessed cassava, symptoms include:
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Fast breathing
Long-term symptoms include:
- Difficulty walking
- Sudden paralysis (often symmetrical affecting both legs)
- Difficulty speaking
- Blurred vision
- Spasticity (continuous involuntary contraction of muscles)
- Muscle tightness and stiffness
- Muscle weakness
- Memory loss
- Inability to solve problems
- Other cognitive deficits
Diagnosis
Clinical examination and urine analysis (misdiagnosis as polio is common)
Treatment
There is no treatment or cure
Prognosis
The paralysis and nervous system damage is irreversible, but patients can benefit from rehabilitation and walking aids
Prevention: What Can You Do?
Make sure you do not eat unprocessed or under-processed cassava and use the wetting method to reduce its cyanide content
Konzo In the News
- Konzo disease breaks out in Mongu
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Cassava and Konzo, the Crippling Disease
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/