What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is not a disease, and it is not contagious. It is a common neurological disorder that causes sudden, uncontrollable electrical surges in the brain. These brief interruptions in the brain activities causes periods of altered awareness, known as seizures whose nature and intensity vary from person to person.
There is no single cause of epilepsy, and in 70% of all cases, there is no known cause. In the remaining 30% of cases, Some of the known causes of epilepsy are:
- Severe head injury
- Infections that damage the brain
- Toxic substances that affect the brain
- Brain tumor and stroke
- Hereditary disease affecting the brain
- High Fever
- Lack of oxygen to the brain
- Metabolism or nutrition imbalance
Recognising Seizures:
Seizures may present in many forms but are always due to bursts of electrical activity within the brain. It may appear as a brief stare, an unusual movement of the body, consciousness, a change in awareness, muscle spasms or convulsions. A single seizure is not considered epilepsy. When seizures occur again and again, the patient is said to have epilepsy.
Seizure may last a few seconds or a few minutes and the number of seizures vary greatly from person to person - from a few a year to several a day.
Common types of Seizures:
- Generalised Seizures
- Tonic Clonic Seizures
- Tonic Seizures
- Absence Seizures
- Partial Seizures
- Simple Partial Seizures
- Complex Partial Seizures
- Atonic Seizures
- Myoclonic Seizures
** Epilepsy can affect anyone at any time and any age.
Epilepsy Factsheets:
Family & Social Situation
10% of people with epilepsy expressed strained family relationships, citing em-barrassment, financial strain and being a burden to spouse and family members as chief reasons.
20% also admitted to difficulty making friends or maintaining a relationship at work or in social gatherings. Low self-esteem, fear of avoidance and embarrassment were among the common reasons.
Almost 42% also chose not to divulge their medical condition to their friends. 49 - 53% of responders cite resentment, depression and anxiety as their main psychological barriers.
About 70% of people with epilepsy indicated that they would want to marry and have children. While 86% of community respondents (non-people with epilepsy) agreed that people with epilepsy should marry, only about 36% would allow their children to marry one.
TRIGGERS OF SEIZURES
The following conditions can trigger a seizure:
- Forgetting to take medication
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Menstruation
- Concurrent Infection like flu or fever
SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
Common side effects include:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
Less common side effects include:
- Hand tremor
- Hair loss
- Blurring of vision
- Weight gain
WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING A SEIZURE
DO
Remain calm
Protect the person from harm
Turn the person to the side
Observe the type and duration of seizure
DO NOT
Restrain the person unless there is danger
Put anything in the mouth
Crowd around the person
Questions & Answers for Epilepsy
Do seizures injure the brain?
Seizure does not seem to have a lasting effect on the brain. Many people with epilepsy who have had many seizures during the course of their life do not have any changes in their intelligence, perception, or alertness.
How does a person feel after an epileptic seizure?
Often, people feel confused, sleepy, and irritable following a seizure. Some types, such as complex partial seizures, may be forgotten immediately after they occur.
Is there a cure for epilepsy?
There is no cure for epilepsy yet but there are many treatments available to reduce the frequency & severity of seizures. Brain surgery is a possible further consideration in certain situations when medication do not adequately control seizures.
Can having epilepsy affect one's emotions and behaviour?
Some people who have seizures, may experience more extreme emotional changes or exhibit behaviours which are not considered socially acceptable. They may benefit from learning stress management and relaxation techniques.
