Annick Mélanie Magnerou^1,2, Daniel Gams Massi^3,4, Eric Bila Guemekane Lamou^1,2, Jacques Doumbe^1,5, Yacouba Njankouo Mapoure^1,4, Callixte  Kuate6,7,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala,   Internal Medicine Department, Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital,     Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea,    Internal Medicine Department, Douala General Hospital,   Regional hospital of Mbanga,    Neurology department, Laquintinie Hospital,     Faculty of medicine and biomedical science Yaounde

Correspondence:  melanieannick@yahoo.fr

Introduction: Epilepsy is highly prevalent in Cameroon, an African developing country. Substantial progress has been made to improve the diagnosis and the management of epilepsy

Method: We consulted archives from the Ministry of Health and searched in Medline, Google scholar databases with terms: epilepsy, seizure, convulsions and Cameroon.

Results:

• In 2001, epilepsy was officially recognized as a public health problem by Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, and in 2006, the National Epilepsy Control Program (NECP) was launched by the Department of Disease Control.
• Since the establishment of the Cameroonian league Against Epilepsy (CLaE) in 2009, and Cameroon Academy of Neurology (CAN), a series of significant programs were carried out in Cameroon, as epilepsy training course for physicians and nurses, a series of public education activities, national training program.

• Concerning etiologies: Infectious and perinatal causes predominated, followed by vascular, traumatic, tumor and toxic causes. A high  prevalence of epilepsy has been observed due to onchocerciasis endemic. Infectious causes of epilepsy are most often associated with HIV infection.