People of all ages suffer from epilepsy, with nearly 80 per cent of them living in low- and middle-income countries.
While effective treatment exists to control epilepsy, many people, particularly in low-income countries, do not seek treatment for fear of discrimination and stigmatisation.
Today, February 11, is International Epilepsy Day, and there has be a call for greater awareness and an end to the stigma around epilepsy.
“According to the World Health Organisation, in low- and middle-income countries, about three fourths of people with epilepsy may not receive the treatment they need,” said Dr Chris Nathaniel, from Novartis.
This unfortunate ‘treatment gap’ exists despite the fact that inexpensive medication is available to control epileptic seizures.
Studies in both low- and middle-income countries have shown that up to 70 per cent of children and adults with epilepsy can be successfully treated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).
After two to five years of successful treatment and being seizure-free, drugs can be withdrawn in about 70 per cent of children and 60 per cent of adults without subsequent relapse.
Understanding epilepsy
Epilepsy is not contagious and is characterised by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a part of the body or the entire body. The most common type of epilepsy, which affects six out of 10 people with the disorder, is called idiopathic epilepsy and has no identifiable cause. Epilepsy with a known cause is called secondary epilepsy, or symptomatic epilepsy. The causes of secondary epilepsy could include brain damage, a severe head injury or brain malformations.
Seizures can vary in frequency, from as little as one per year to several per day. These seizures can be highly distressing for both the person with epilepsy and for those witnessing them. For many people with epilepsy, a seizure can be preceded by a sense of impending disaster or a sense of euphoria. During a seizure, a person may lose consciousness, their muscles may relax and cause them to fall down unexpectedly, or they may jerk and move about uncontrollably and lose control over their bowels or bladder.
Not all seizures involve convulsions, even a brief lapse of attention, muscle jerks, rapid eye movements, blinking and staring could also be signs of seizure. After a seizure, the person may feel dazed and confused, and have trouble remembering what happened. They may also suffer from a headache, or feel unusually sleepy or fatigued.
Epilepsy risks
An epileptic seizure can interrupt heart rhythm and, in the long term, epilepsy increases the risk of heart disease and strokes. Most women with epilepsy have healthy pregnancies, but there are increased risks.
People with seizures tend to have more physical problems as well as higher rates of psychological conditions, including anxiety and depression. Similarly, the risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than the general population, with a large proportion of these deaths potentially preventable, such as falls, drowning, burns and prolonged seizures.
According to the WHO, people with epilepsy can experience reduced access to health and life insurance, a withholding of the opportunity to obtain a driving license, and even barriers to enter particular occupations.
End the stigma
With effective, affordable treatment options available, people suffering from epilepsy need to seek diagnosis and treatment that may be able to control or avoid seizures, and minimise the other health impacts of.
Patient support groups are also a good way for epilepsy patients to gain emotional support from a community of people with the same disorder and learn about common challenges and how to overcome them.
- Information courtesy of Novartis.
