SO MANY SEIZURES! COULD IT BE EPILEPSY?

WHAT IS EPILEPSY AND HOW SHOULD I HANDLE THE CONDITION?

November is epilepsy awareness month. Most of us however know very little about epilepsy, thus making it very hard to support those living with the condition. Traditionally in the African culture, it was believed that the condition, just like many others, was a result of a curse or witchcraft. This would more often than not result in the persons living with epilepsy being alienated by the community, thus not getting the help and support they needed.

So, what is epilepsy? Epilepsy also referred to as Kifafa in Kenya is a disorder characterized by the tendency to have recurring seizures. A seizure is the response to an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain. The term seizure describes various experiences and behaviors and is different from convulsions, though the terms are often used synonymously. Anything that irritates the brain can produce a seizure. Common causes of seizures include; high fever, brain infections, metabolic disturbances, insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, destruction of brain tissue, other illnesses like eclampsia and lupus erythematosus, exposure to toxic drugs or substances, withdrawal after heavy use of drugs or adverse reaction to prescription drugs.

According to research, approximately two thirds of people who experience a seizure don’t get another. The other third however go on to experience recurring seizures, a condition referred to as epilepsy. What happens to a person during a seizure depends on the part of the brain affected by the abnormal electrical discharge. The discharge may affect only a small part of the brain resulting in the person noticing an odd smell or taste, or a large area, leading to a convulsion. Convulsions refer to jerking and spasms of muscles throughout the body. The person may also have brief attacks of altered consciousness. A person who loses consciousness, has muscle spasms that shake the body, loses bladder control, or suddenly becomes confused and inattentive may be having a seizure.

One tip to sense an oncoming seizure attack is the fact that they are often preceded by auras; unusual sensations of smell, taste or even a gut feeling that you’re about to have a seizure.  A seizure usually lasts 2-5 minutes and could be followed by a headache, sore muscles, unusual sensations, confusion and fatigue.

The cause of seizures is usually determined by medical tests like electroencephalogram (EEG) which reveal any unusual brain activity or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals scarring in small areas of the brain. In some cases the defects might be microscopic scars resulting from brain injury at birth or later. A few types of seizure disorders e.g. juvenile myoclonic epilepsy are inherited. If seizures are being caused by treatable medical conditions like tumors, an infection, abnormal blood sugar or abnormal sodium levels in the blood, treating the condition will result in the ceasing of the seizures. In the remaining number of people with epilepsy, the disease is labeled idiopathic, meaning that there’s no evidence of damage found in the brain, therefore the cause is unknown.

No research has so far positively assured that epilepsy can be completely cured, but the occurrence of seizures can be controlled through medication; hence epileptic people can live ‘normal’ fulfilling lives and achieve goals and visions for themselves and their families.

Antiseizure drugs are very effective but just like most other drugs, they do have side effects. Most cause drowsiness and hyperactivity when given to children. People taking antiseizure drugs should be aware of possible side effects and should consult their doctor at the very first sign of them.

One of the major challenges I’ve experienced so far working in the health sector in Kenya and being served by medics and paramedics is the fact that they for some reason believe the patient doesn’t need to know much about their condition or their health status. This is an unfortunate mentality that most of us have condoned for so long and it literally annoys the heck out of me. The routine of the larger population is going to the hospital, not questioning the qualifications of whomever it is they find in a white dust coat because the coat somehow signifies that they’re a ‘daktari’; tell them our symptoms, they send us to the lab (in most cases) to test for malaria; we take back the tests, after which they scribble down some drugs; we gladly take the prescription, thank them and leave, not asking what the problem was in the first place or if we’ve been sick for a while, how we’re fairing.

Apart from the drugs side effects, antiseizure drugs, again just like most other drugs react with other drugs, what is referred to as drug-drug interaction, and also interact with nutrients, drug-nutrient interaction.  This in simple terms means that if you take other medicine while taking the antiseizure drugs, they could lessen the effects of the drugs hence exposing you to more seizure attacks.

Another very important thing to note if you’re taking antiseizure drugs or any other drugs for that matter, is you need to keep off alcohol. Alcohol can not only lessen the effect of drugs, but also exaggerate the side effects.

Family members and friends of epileptic people need to be trained on what to do during seizures. There’s a common belief that the person experiencing a seizure need to be protected from biting the tongue, but such efforts can do more harm than good. The most important step is to protect the person from a fall, loosen clothing around the neck, and place a pillow under the head. If the person has lost consciousness, they need to be put in the recovery position. Roll them onto one side so as to ease breathing. The person shouldn’t be left alone until he or she is fully awake and can move about ‘normally’.

The most important thing to do though if you’re living with any medical condition that could put you in danger is to always have identification materials that specify the condition and the contact details of at least two family members and your doctor.

Finally, work closely with your doctor and nutritionist to ensure you not only attain good health, but also maintain it. Most people don’t realize that proper nutrition can not only help you achieve good health, but also prevent numerous diseases. And yes, you can and will live a long fulfilling life with epilepsy. Spread the word!!!