HANDLE EPILEPSY WITH CARE.

Epilepsy is one among the most prevalent and serious disorders of the brain. One out of every 100-2000 people in India suffer from epilepsy. Although a common problem, epilepsy is often stigmatised. Especially in rural India, due to a lack of awareness, many misconceptions are associated with this disease.

What causes epilepsy? - Epilepsy can develop at any age. However, it occurs often before the age of 12 and after the age of 60. The reasons can include head injury, infections of the brain such as meningitis, cycticercosis (worms in the brain), birth related brain injuries, a stroke or because of a scar, a slow growing tumour, developmental abnormality of the brain, genetic causes or even without any detectable reason. 

How will epilepsy affect a person's life? - Most people with epilepsy can participate in all activities. They should avoid activities. They should avoid activities like swimming and driving for safety reasons. Most children with epilepsy have the same intelligence and learning potential as other children. Some children with epilepsy also have learning disabilities that may be due to the same cause as the epilepsy.
First aid during a fit:

• Stay calm;
• Note the time;
• Prevent others from crowding around;
• Put something soft under the person's head - to prevent injury;
• Only move if they are in a dangerous place, such as on a road at the top of the stairs. Move things away from them if there is a risk of injury;
• Do not attempt to restrain convulsive movements. Allow the seizure to take its course;
• After the fit is over, turn him to one side so that he doesn't aspirate;
• Do not put anything in the person's mouth;
• If a fit lasts for more than five minutes, or the person doesn't become conscious in thirty minutes, take him for medical analysis.

Prevention of epilepsy: Epilepsy can be prevented by preventing birth related brain injuries by good care at the time of delivery and avoiding cysticercosis infection in the brain by practicing good hygiene. With increasing modernisation and motorisation, there is a rising trend for secondary seizures or post-traumatic seizures (PTSs) resulting from road traffic injuries, falls, violence and industrial accidents. Simple measures like wearing a helmet, seat belts will prevent head injury and epilepsy.
Treatment of epilepsy: About 75 percent of people with epilepsy will have their epilepsy controlled with anti-epileptic drugs. AEDs prevent seizures from happening, but don't cure epilepsy. 
Epilepsy surgery: Surgery may help 30 percent of the people with epilepsy whose seizures do not respond to medication. Epilepsy surgery is a highly specialised procedure and performed in a very few centres and is considered only when a person is thought to have a very good chance of becoming seizure free after surgery. Over 70 percent of people who have epilepsy surgery become completely seizure free.
Psychological and family issues: One of the major challenges epilepsy patients encounter is the dip in confidence levels, development of inferiority complex and solitude. The families of persons with epilepsy, especially the elders and parents who are dealing with seizures in children, need to understand the disease and know more from doctors.
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