What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy has an estimated prevalence of 40 to 50 million cases and is the most common brain disorder in the world. It is characterised by repeated seizures; sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain that affect how a person feels or acts for a short time. Seizures can occur as often as several times a day or as seldom as every few months. Secondary impairments are common, ranging from intellectual impairment and personality disorders to burn contractures that may result from people falling into open fires during seizures. Epilepsy patients often experience exclusion and stigmatisation.
What Causes Epilepsy?
- Genetic predisposition
- Brain damage resulting from infections, parasites, alcohol or other toxic substances, and tumours
- Infectious causes of epilepsy include: tapeworm, schistosomiasis, malaria and encephalitis
- However, half of all epilepsy cases have unknown causes
What Cures Epilepsy?
Epilepsy therapy is aimed at preventing seizures. Additional family support, support for livelihood development and public awareness education helps to strengthen the patient’s position within the community.
Many epilepsy patients can lead seizure-free lives if treated with inexpensive, anti-epileptic medicines.
Many epilepsy patients can lead seizure-free lives if treated with inexpensive, anti-epileptic medicines.
