EEG Test in Ethiopia

EEG or electroencephalogram test in Ethiopia is done to diagnose and manage neurologic conditions like epilepsy. As one of the most common neurological diseases in Ethiopia, epilepsy affects people from 50 years of age. It causes symptoms like jerking movements, stiffening, loss of consciousness, and breathing issues. So, it is vital to diagnose it at the earliest for effective treatment. 

In Ethiopia and Addis Ababa, EEG machines are now being arranged at various private and not-for-profit neurology hospitals and care centers. Some of the major ones include CareEpilepsy Ethiopia, ICMC General Hospital, St. Gabriel General Hospital, Axon Stroke and Spine Center, and Addis Ababa University.

EEG tests are done on a daily basis in many nerve hospitals in Ethiopia, where patients are given complete instructions on how to proceed with the test. Find all the details about EEG testing in Ethiopia below.

What Is the EEG Test?

EEG is a medical test that assesses the electrical activity taking place in the brain of a patient with epilepsy. If the patient has epilepsy, then their brain waves or electrical activity in the brain will be abnormal. The EEG test detects it. During this diagnostic test, electrodes are pasted on the patient’s scalp to detect electrical charges. The charges arise as a result of the activity of your brain cells. They are amplified and shown in the form of a graph on a computer screen. The neurologist then interprets it. In the case of epilepsy, the seizure activity shows as quick spiking waves on the EEG test. Besides epilepsy, this test diagnoses Alzheimer’s Disease, sleep disorder narcolepsy, and brain damage that may cause headaches, dizziness, and confusion.

EEG Test Procedure 

The usual procedure followed during this test is given below.

• The scalp of the patient is prepared. It is done by the medical team, which scrubs the areas marked for placing the electrode.
• These electrodes (about 16 to 25), in small elastic caps, are kept over the scalp. In the scalp of an adult, 19 electrodes are placed. 
• The electrodes are linked to a wire which connects to a computer.
• Through the electrodes, the electric frequency of the brain cells is monitored. 
• The recordings of this activity are shown on the computer as waves.
• The neurologist studies these waves to draw a conclusion about the neurological condition. 

How EEG Testing Began in Ethiopia?

The provision for EEG Tests in Ethiopia was a result of CareEpilepsy USA, a nonprofit organization’s mission to expand awareness and care about epilepsy among Ethiopians. Between 2019 and 2020, the organization purchased and donated an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine to the CareEpilepsy Ethiopia nonprofit organization. It has since then partnered with neurologists and EEG technicians nationally and internationally to enhance the rate of detection and subsequent care for epilepsy in Ethiopia.

Eminent neurosurgeons like Dr. Guta Zenebe, Dr. Getahun Mengitsu, and Dr. Mehila Zebenigus have used and are using it to diagnose and treat epilepsy properly. Hundreds of epileptic patients in Ethiopia have undergone this testing individually or as part of a broader clinical trial.

The Current State of EEG Testing in Ethiopia

 At present, EEG tests have become common in Ethiopia. However, this is true only for the capital of the country, which is Addis Ababa. Here, many neurology hospitals and centers have EEG machines and related equipment. The major hospitals with this diagnostic testing setup include:

• ICMC General Hospital
• Black Lion Hospital
• St. Gabriel General Hospital
• Axon Stroke and Spine Center
• Addis Ababa University Hospital
• Addis Hiwot Hospital
• Washington Hospital Millenium Hall Drive
• Girum Hospital

How Much Does EEG Test Cost in Ethiopia?

The cost of EEG tests varies between the public and private hospitals. In public sector hospitals, the average cost per test is around $55 or 3145 ETB. In private hospitals, the cost per test is around $190 or 10864 ETB.