Epilepsy, which is also known as a seizure disorder, is a common neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It has been estimated that around 1% of all South Africans suffer from the condition and that 5% will have a seizure at some point in their lifetime. The fact that the condition is so common and we are likely to encounter someone who is epileptic or having a seizure at some point in our lives is why we should all know something about epilepsy.
At the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) we encourage our members to take control of their family's health and deal with any potential health problems, such as epilepsy so that these can be effectively treated. National Epilepsy Day is celebrated every year to increase awareness of this medical condition.
Eastern Cape teacher Peter Curtis had never had seizures in his life until he was involved in a car accident in which he suffered a head injury one winter's morning two years ago. After this he suddenly started having seizures every few days. These caused him to collapse and writhe on the ground with his arms and legs jerking uncontrollably.
Peter's neurologist, a doctor that specialises in treating the brain, said that Peter had suffered damage to a part of his brain tissue during the accident. This was causing the seizures, which he likened to electrical short circuits in the brain.
He pointed out that epilepsy is not confined to any race or age group. It has many different causes and anyone could go on to develop the condition at some point in their lives or another. He said that everyone should keep this in mind before judging those who suffer from epilepsy.
A seizure is a surge of electrical activity in the brain that affects how a person feels or acts for a time. This surge causes a sudden change of behaviour due to a temporary change in the electrical functioning of the brain. This malfunction usually occurs in the outside rim of the brain or cortex.
Seizures can take on many different forms and can affect different people in different ways. Some seizures are mild, are not even noticed by the affected individual and may never be diagnosed by a doctor. However, other people may suffer from epilepsy that is very disabling and has a considerable impact on their lives. They may suffer from severe seizures on a regular basis making it difficult for them to hold down a job and live a normal life.
Seizures are not in themselves a disease, but are rather a symptom of one of a number of possible different disorders that can affect the brain. In Peter's case it was an injury to the head that brought about the condition but it can also be caused by many other factors. Some other causes and risk factors for epilepsy include:
Epilepsy is not usually diagnosed after just one seizure although it can be if a person has a condition that places them at risk for having more. A doctor will first establish whether the seizure may have been caused by known medical conditions such as alcohol withdrawal or very low blood sugar, both of which can cause one-off seizures.
The good news is that there are more and more excellent treatments available and it is estimated that approximately 70% of epilepsy will respond to medication. Peter is very thankful that his epilepsy is fully controlled through the use of medicine and that GEMS has assisted him through the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. He admits he knew little about epilepsy before he himself developed it. He had an epileptic boy at school who had suffered a couple of seizures in class but he thought epilepsy was something that only affected other people.
Epilepsy is treated through the use of a class of medications known as anticonvulsants, which usually control the condition. In some cases treating the underlying medical condition that is causing the seizures may help to control the epilepsy. For example the successful removal of a brain tumour or control of diabetes may stop an individual from suffering convulsions.
Many epileptics have certain ‘triggers' that may result in them having a seizure, sometimes for the first time in their lives. Some epileptics learn what triggers their seizures and learn to avoid or treat these. Any individual who suffers from epilepsy should seek to live as healthy a life as possible as this can help to control the condition. The following may help to trigger epileptic seizures in certain individuals:
Fully blown epileptic or gran mal seizures, tend to come on very suddenly and can be quite startling to those who witness them. Many people consequently have no idea how to deal with such a situation. There are also a number of misconceptions about how a seizure patient should be handled. The following are some steps that should be followed when responding to a person having a seizure:
Remember that the great majority of epileptics respond well to treatment, so anyone who is suffering from the condition should be encouraged to visit their doctor.
For any GEMS member queries please phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.
References:
Epilepsy South Africa, http://epilepsy.org.za/new/.
WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/500?aspxerrorpath=/dummy.aspx
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