What does Konzo mean?
Konzo is an epidemic paralytic disease occurring among hunger-stricken rural populations in Africa where a diet dominated by insufficiently processed cassava results in simultaneous malnutrition and high dietary cyanide intake.
What is the main symptom of Konzo?
The Clinical Expression of Konzo. Acute intoxication symptoms due to cyanide include tachypnoea, tachycardia, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, mental confusion, and convulsions, generally 4–6 hours after ingestion of meals containing cassava [58], [71]–[73].
Is Konzo still present in Africa?
These diseases include the disease named Konzo that has been well documented in sub-Sahara Africa, mostly among children and women of childbearing age. Outbreaks of Konzo have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, Central African Republic, Angola, Cameroun, and most recently in Zambia.
What causes Konzo?
Konzo (tied legs) is a tropical myelopathy with abrupt onset and upper motor-neuron pattern also caused by dietary cyanide intoxication from insufficiently processed cassava roots.
Which African country reported an outbreak of Konzo in 2018 as discussed in this week’s material?
Konzo outbreak in the Western Province of Zambia.
What is cyanide in cassava?
Cassava, an edible tuberous root often made into flour, contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can result in fatal cyanide poisoning if not properly detoxified by soaking, drying, and scraping before being consumed. Acute cassava-associated cyanide poisoning outbreaks are rarely described.
Why is Boba black?
One of the “standard boba pearls,” black boba, is made from the cassava root. The black coloring is created by added brown sugar or caramel coloring. In other words, black boba is simply tapioca with added coloring that makes it sweeter.
What’s the difference between paraplegia and tetraparesis?
Paraparesis generally results from spinal cord lesions caudad to the second thoracic spinal cord segment, whereas tetraparesis occurs because of lesions craniad to this segment (see discussion of spinal cord lesion localization in The Neurologic Examination and Lesion Localization, on page 328).
What does it mean when tetraparesis is ascending?
The occurrence of rapidly progressing tetraparesis may signal other conditions. In most cases, it is ascending upwards from the lower limbs, but it may sometimes be a descending weakness.
Why do people with cerebral palsy have tetraparesis?
Some patients have tetraparesis due to congenital or birth problems. Among these, cerebral palsy (or spastic tetraparesis) is the most common reason. Evolving flaccid paralysis may occur due to myelopathies involving the spinal cord itself or peripheral nerves.
What is the dictionary definition of a democracy?
English Language Learners Definition of democracy. : a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting. : a country ruled by democracy. : an organization or situation in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights. See the full definition for democracy in the English Language Learners Dictionary.