Apport de la m é thode de détoxification par humidification de la farine de manioc dans la lutte contre le Konzo dans le district de Kwango

Abstract

Konzo is a spastic paralysis, whose appearance is abrupt, permanent and incurable of the lower limbs. It is a neurological disease attributed to cyanide exposure due to prolonged consumption of large quantities of inadequately processed cassava. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution of the detoxification method by humidification of cassava flour in the fight against Konzo in a district of Kwango province. The quintessence of the method is to gradually add, in a quantity of cassava flour available to the preparation of fufu, clean water, stirring constantly, until the flour is moist. And the resulting mixture is sun-dried before use. A retrospective study is carried out on data collected on a sample of 746 children aged 6-14 years, during the three-year period by PRONANUT in the different villages of present-day Kwango Province. A prevalence of 16% of Konzo cases in the surveyed households and a significant decrease in the urine thiocyanate content of the respondents were found at the end of the study period. The integration of the detoxification method by humidification of cassava flour into the dietary habits of the population of Kwango province resulted in a significant decrease in the thiocyanate content in the urine of the respondents, three years later.