Marking World Epilepsy Day on February 10, Dr Manvinder Sappal Mathoun shares insights into patterns and prevalence of epilepsy, the elements which worsen it and the best-known cures for the illness. She has 15 years of scientific expertise in treating sufferers with numerous neurological issues with experience in managing sufferers with stroke, headache, dementia, epilepsy and numerous different neuromuscular issues.
Worldwide Epilepsy Day (IED) is a world healthcare occasion celebrated on second Monday of February yearly since 2015 (February 10 in 2025). It intends to convey collectively sufferers affected by epilepsy and create public consciousness.
The prevalence of epilepsy in India is about 1 per cent of the inhabitants and the prevalence in Punjab is about 3 to 11 sufferers (roughly 7.6) per 1,000 sufferers. We see a median out affected person responsibility (OPD) of about two to 3 sufferers with seizure or epilepsy day by day. Epilepsy is mostly seen in kids and individuals above 65 years. The causes are beginning trauma or genetic elements in kids, in addition to neuro infections, neuro trauma in aged. The most common an infection is neurocysticercosis NCC because the secondary explanation for epilepsy. There may be distinction in prevalence in city and rural areas.
It’s extra frequent in rural areas. The trigger could also be consuming habits or poor hand hygiene. The overuse of laptop or smartphone or electrical devices can positively improve the chance of seizure recurrence resulting from their electromagnetic fields. The stimuli delicate epilepsy positively improve with the overuse of all these applied sciences. The flickering gentle can improve the seizure sensitivity. Poor sleep hygiene and sleep deprivation also can precipitate seizures.
What’s epilepsy, myths?
Epilepsy is a neurological dysfunction that causes individuals to have recurrent seizures. A seizure is a quick disruption {of electrical} exercise within the mind. However prevalent myths relating to epilepsy, which should be handled are: It’s not contagious, not a psychological sickness, not psychological retardation. Greater than half the time, the causes of epilepsy are unknown. The place a trigger could be decided, it’s most frequently one in every of these: head damage, infections that have an effect on the mind, stroke, mind tumour, Alzeihmer’s illness, genetic elements.
Who has epilepsy?
One in 10 individuals could have a seizure in some unspecified time in the future of their lives. Epilepsy doesn’t discriminate. It impacts kids and adults, women and men and folks of all races, faith, ethnic backgrounds and social lessons. Whereas epilepsy is mostly recognized both in childhood or after the age of 65, it could actually happen at any age.
How is it recognized?
Affected person’s historical past, neurological examination, blood work and different scientific assessments are all necessary in diagnosing epilepsy. Eyewitness account of the affected person’s seizure is necessary to assist decide the kind of seizure. The electroencephalograph (EEG) is probably the most generally used take a look at in diagnosing epilepsy. In some conditions CT scans, MRI’S and PET scans (to have a look at inside construction of mind) could also be required.
Remedy
Remedy: Most individuals obtain good seizure management on a number of number of medicines. Generally if not one of the medicines work, a particular weight-reduction plan could be tried as an alternative (Ketogenic weight-reduction plan).
In case of any adversarial drug response, don’t cease the treatment by yourself, this could result in steady seizures, which could be of threat to life.
Surgical procedure: A number of sorts of surgical procedure could also be used for sufferers whose seizures don’t reply to treatment. The most common are lobectomy and cortical resection. These could also be used when a seizure focus could be decided and removing of all or a part of the affected lobe could be carried out with out injury to very important features.
Vagus nerve stimulation: A small pacemaker like gadget is implanted within the left chest wall with lead hooked up to vagus nerve. The gadget is programmed to ship electrical stimulation to the mind at common intervals. As much as two thirds of sufferers who don’t reply to treatment, see enchancment with this methodology.
Ketogenic weight-reduction plan: Used primarily in kids. The medically supervised high-fat, low carbohydrate, low protein weight-reduction plan has been proven to learn two-third of kids who can keep it.
Epilepsy First Support:
do’s & don’ts
Do’s – Throughout the seizure defend the individual, take note of what occurs to sufferers throughout seizure, notice the time for which seizure persists, maintain airway, don’t foricbly maintain the affected person, keep calm, name for assist.
Don’ts – Don’t restrain affected person, don’t supply any meals/drink, don’t put something in individual’s mouth; don’t carry out cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the individual isn’t respiration when seizure stops.
Put up seizure: Transfer issues out of the way in which. Take away particular person’s eyeglasses, tie or scarf. Loosen tight clothes from the neck. Place one thing mushy and flat underneath the pinnacle. Flip individual to at least one facet, clear the airway, let the individual relaxation in secure place until he awakens. Search for respiration, if there’s any bother search medical assist instantly. Test for individual’s medical identification, what treatment they take, and drug allergy symptoms.
When to hunt instant medical consideration?
If seizure lasts for greater than 5 minutes. The individual isn’t aware or has respiration issue. A second seizure follows instantly. A lady is pregnant, has diabetes or excessive fever. An individual has injured himself throughout seizure.
