2nd International Epilepsy Day February 8. " Epilepsy Is A Health Care Priority"
Misconceptions and Reality about Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common brain disorder in the world afflicting about 50 million people worldwide. It responds to treatment about 70% of the time, yet about three fourths of affected people in developing countries do not get the treatment they need (WHO). It is also one of the oldest diseases known to mankind and is associated with a lot of stigma and shame.
In fact it is said that “The history of epilepsy can be summarized as 4000 years of ignorance, superstition and stigma, followed by 100 years of knowledge, superstition and stigma.”
Hence it is of paramount importance to dispel the common myths and misconceptions about epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a condition when a person suffers from repeated or recurrent seizures; which are a sudden and abnormal increase in the electrical activity of the brain. This can result in violent muscle spasms, strange behavior, emotions, sensations, convulsions or loss of consciousness.
One common belief; especially prevalent in the rural areas, is that a person with epilepsy believed to be possessed by an evil spirits during the attack. Epilepsy is a medical condition and such persons are to be taken to a qualified doctor and not to faith healers or sorcerers for treatment.
Another common belief is that epilepsy is contagious. But this is far from the truth, epilepsy is not contagious and there is no harm in touching a patient who is having a seizure to help him.
When a person is having a seizure there is no requirement of pressing an iron key or any object between his fingers or thrusting it between his teeth to stop the seizure. The only requirement is removing all dangerous, sharp objects in the vicinity which can injure the person. One must not try to restrain a person when he is having a seizure. This will not stop the seizure and may prove dangerous for the both the patient and the person restraining him by causing injury. Water/food should not be given to the person till the seizure passes off. After the seizure, the person is to be placed on one side so that the tongue does not fall back and obstruct breathing. A person will rarely die from having a seizure but may be injured by nearby objects, or falling or when something is forced into his mouth.
All seizures do not involve falling to the ground and having convulsions. Some may last for just a few seconds and involve a brief black out when the person just stares or blinks or has slight movements of mouth or hand.
A person who has epilepsy usually does not have any cognitive disability unless it is associated with a brain injury. In fact many famous people in history such as Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Alfred Nobel, Michelangelo and Lewis Carol had epilepsy. But this did not deter them from achieving great heights.
Marriage is not a barrier when consent of prospective partner is taken without hiding the facts. Also with proper pre conception counseling it is possible for a woman to conceive and have children. The risk of the children having epilepsy because of one or both parents with epilepsy is very low and only for certain kind.
Finally regular medication with adequate sleep, food and avoiding anything that stimulates the brain is extremely important for persons with epilepsy. Any withdrawal/stoppage of medicines should be done only with the consent of the treating doctor even if the patient has been seizure-free for a certain period of time.
In short, proper education and awareness about the disease can dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy.
Once called the ‘falling disease’ and said to be caused by possession by a demon or ghost, epilepsy still remains a condition very often misunderstood. In the rural areas of our country, people still go to witch doctors and babas to drive the demon away from the body of the epileptic. On World Epilepsy day, we attempt to bust some of the myths about epilepsy:

Myth 1: People suffering from epilepsy are mentally deranged or challenged.
Fact 1: Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain in which certain clusters of nerve cells sometime signal abnormally causing strange sensations, emotions, behaviour, muscle spasms, in some case convulsions and loss of consciousness. The functioning of the other parts of the brain and body are perfectly normal. Some people with mental retardation might have epileptic attacks but people with epileptic attacks never progress to mental retardation or decrease in IQ. The fact that well-known names like Sir Alfred Nobel, Napoleon and Socrates were known cases of epilepsy is enough to dispel this myth.
Myth 2: All epileptic attacks occur with convulsions.
Fact 2: There are several kinds of epileptic attacks. Some people may just have altered sensations, some may exhibit repetitive movements, some may experience auras. Convulsions are common in certain types of epilepsy, but not in all forms.
Myth 3: Epilepsy is hereditary.
Fact 3: While there might be a genetic angle to epilepsy, it is not the only cause. Anything that disturbs the nerve cell activity ranging from abnormal brain development, illness or brain damage can cause epilepsy. Brain tumours, meningitis and other infections of the brain, fever, Alzheimer’s disease, head injuries and even alcoholism can also be responsible for attacks.
Myth 4: There are no triggers for epileptic attacks. They can occur anyplace, anytime without warning.
Fact 4: There are certain triggers like lack of sleep, flashing lights, stress, alcohol, hormonal changes during menstruation, smoking etc which can precipitate attacks.
Myth 5: Epilepsy makes people dependent on others.
Fact 5: People with epilepsy can lead a normal life with proper treatment and precautions. Their family and friends need to understand their condition and know how they can help in case of an emergency. Only when it comes to driving, attempting dangerous sports etc are they prohibited for the sake of their own safety.
Myth 6: When a person is having an epileptic attack, he/she should be restrained.
Fact 6: This is the worst thing you can do to help. It may end up making the seizure more severe. If the person is moving, remove dangerous objects near him/her. If they fall, turn them to one side so that saliva can drain from their mouth. Loosen their clothing, don’t let people crowd near them. If they are wearing glasses, remove them. Do not attempt to insert anything inside their mouth, even if it is soft. The tongue cannot be ‘swallowed’. Usually the attack lasts for less than five minutes. If it lasts for more than that, do call their doctor or the nearest hospital. Do not attempt to get them on their feet immediately after the attack.
Myth 7: Epilepsy makes people unfit for marriage.
Fact 7: This misconception is a big one in India, especially in the case of women. With proper treatment, one can lead a normal life and can even prevent them to a great extent with awareness and education.
Myth 8: Women suffering from epilepsy cannot have children.
Fact 8: Epilepsy or anti-epileptic drugs cannot affect fertility in anyway. Even during pregnancy, women can take their medicines under their doctor’s supervision.
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