This week, South Africa celebrates National Epilepsy Week.
Epilepsy, according to the organisation called Epilepsy South Africa, is a neurological condition characterised by unusual electrical activity in the brain.
The week-long celebration, usually in the middle of the year, aims to raise awareness about the chronic condition. The organisation said epilepsy affects one in every 100 people in South Africa and there are about 50 million people with epilepsy worldwide.
One in 20 people, Epilepsy SA said, will have a seizure at some time in their lives, however, this does not mean that they have epilepsy. A full diagnosis at a hospital is needed before treatment can start. All of the City of Johannesburg’s 81 clinics, which are primary healthcare centres, can provide ongoing treatment thereafter.
What you can do to help if someone has a seizure:
- Protect the person from injury
- Cushion the head
- Do not restrict movement or put anything in their mouth
- Help breathing by laying the person on their side
- Stay with him or her until fully recovered.
Visit www.epilepsy.org.za for more information about epilepsy and how you can help.
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