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yaldabaoth:

Konzo (locally known as mantakassa in northern Mozambique) is an epidemic paralytic disease. The outbreaks are associated with several weeks of almost exclusive consumption of insufficiently processed bitter cassava. Outbreaks have mainly been reported among women and children in remote rural populations in East and Central Africa. The onset of paralysis (hypertonic paraparesis) is sudden and symmetrical and the resulting disability is permanent, but does not progress. The disease onset is associated to high dietary exposure from cyanide liberated from the naturally occurring glucosides that normally are removed by processing before consumption of cassava roots. However, during food shortage, war and other severe disruptions of life in poor rural cassava growing communities the population have to make short-cuts in normal processing.