The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Epilepsy is preventable, say doctors

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Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009
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Epilepsy is preventable, say doctors

Staff Reporter

Improper transmission of electrical impulses in the brain causes seizures

Bangalore: Till two years back, life was miserable for 10-year-old Sunaina. Studying in fourth standard in a reputed school in the city, her off behaviour worried teachers also. She used to go blank suddenly and stare into space for a few seconds without even blinking whenever her teachers asked her any questions.

An intelligent child, her academic performance was bad. She hated sports too, getting anxiety attacks and palpitations.

The parents and teachers mistook her behaviour to be a psychological problem. Her parents consulted a psychiatrist, who asked them to consult a neurologist. It was only when the neurologist gave his diagnosis that her parents realised that their child was suffering from “absence seizure”, a disorder of the brain.

Under treatment for the last two years, Sunaina is a normal child now.

Rudresh (42), a resident of Kolar, used to be terrified by his short spells of blindness when he would lose his vision suddenly for a few seconds. He first consulted an ophthalmologist, who ruled out any eye problem. He then went to a cardiologist who recommended a neurologist and he landed in Victoria Hospital.

Focal seizure

“After a series of investigations, we found a cyst in his brain that was disturbing the visual centre. He would go blind suddenly because of the irritation caused by the cyst. This condition is called ‘focal seizure’, which can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene. He has been under my treatment for the last two years and is normal now,” said G.T. Subash, president of Indian Epilepsy Association’s Bangalore Branch.

Dr. Subash, who is also the Dean and Director of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, observed there are eight million people in the country who suffer from epilepsy. Commonly called as fits, seizures occur when there is a disturbance or improper transmission of electrical impulses in the brain. If diagnosed early, the condition can be treated.

Misconceptions

A recent study conducted by the Department of Neurology and Epidemiology of NIMHANS reveals that several people, including newly diagnosed patients, often have misapprehensions about the condition and believe they cannot lead normal, healthy lives.

P. Satishchandra, Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neurology in NIMHANS, whose recent study, Epilepsy and Co-Morbidity, reveals that more than 22 per cent of those with epilepsy often have associated illnesses such as headache, depression, anxiety and psychosis. This study was published in the October issue of Epilepsy Research, an international magazine.

Dr. Satishchandra pointed out that epileptics are three times more at risk of committing suicide.

“It is quite obvious that epilepsy patients need emotional and psychological support, especially immediately after diagnosis. They often don’t understand that epilepsy is treatable, controllable and preventable. With the right treatment, some people soon stop getting seizures. Between seizures, a person with epilepsy is no different from anyone else — he or she is absolutely normal in every sense of the word,” he added.

(Patients’ names have been changed.)

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