Nagpur: International epilepsy day is observed every year on the second Monday of February to create public awareness and education about epilepsy. Epilepsy is a common chronic disease of the brain which is treatable and preventable.
In India, for every 1,000 population, there will be about 6 people with epilepsy. Every year about 50 people with new-onset epilepsy will be added for every 100,000 population. Epilepsy affects both the sexes. “In about 75% of patients good seizure control can be achieved with the available anti-epilepsy medications. Of the remaining 25% patients, surgery can be a cure in about 50% of patients,” said Dr JMK Murthy, president of Indian academy of neurology (IAN).
There are several misconceptions and wrong notions about epilepsy. Among some communities there is a belief that epilepsy is due to possession by evil spirits, sins of past life or sins of elders. Some believe that epilepsy is a contagious disease.
IAN has planned a public education and awareness activity on epilepsy to clear the misconceptions, through a virtual meeting in form of panel discussion from 6pm to 8pm on Monday. President Dr Murthy will inaugurate the event while Dr Pravina Shah, former Professor and head, department of neurology, KEM Hospital, Mumbai will be guest of honour. Epilepsy specialist Dr HV Srinivas from Bangalore, Dr B Rajendran from Palakkad, Dr Atul Agrawal from Lucknow, Dr Parampreet Singh from Chandigarh, Dr Gautam Ganguly from Kolkata and Carol D’Souza from Mumbai are panellists.
Epilepsy is associated with substantial stigma and discrimination in India and in most resource-poor countries. “In people with epilepsy, stigma is associated with poor quality of life,” said Dr Murthy.
Attitudes of the community towards people with epilepsy are often negative. This attitude of society towards patients with epilepsy needs a drastic change. “We need to work together to give a chance of better life for the patients with epilepsy and their family members,” said Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, president of tropical neurology group of the world federation of neurology.
Epilepsy is a much misunderstood disease, even though it is eminently treatable. The myths and stigma have caused rejection of a person with epilepsy in various walks of life, including education, sports, employment and marriage. “International epilepsy day is celebrated all over the world to clear the misunderstandings and dispel the myths related to epilepsy so that a person with epilepsy can be integrated into the society,” said former IAN president Dr H V Srinivas.
The society we live in, with its various discriminations has always treated a patient of this disease as a social outcast. As a result there are deep psychological wounds which cause lifelong depression and stress in the patient's life. “The thought of being different from others and not being able to share the same possibilities in life crushes their self confidence,” said neurologist Dr Gautam Ganguly from Kolkata.
Though the stigma of epilepsy is universal, there are a lot of special concerns when it affects women. This relates to issues of hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle which can affect “seizures, issues related to marriage, childbearing and nursing the child, issues relating to contraception and effect of drugs on the unborn child,” said secretary of Indian epilepsy association Dr B Rajendran.
Incidences of epilepsy keep increasing with advancing age. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, stroke and dementia are associated with higher chances of epilepsy, said Dr Atul Agrawal, former head of neurology, KGMC, Lucknow. “Proper counselling of patients with epilepsy and their family members is important,” said Carol D’Souza, a psychologist from Mumbai.
In school-going children, proper diagnosis should be done. “What looks like epilepsy may not be epilepsy,” said Dr Parampreet Singh, professor of neurology at PGIMER, Chandigarh.