Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Proper diagnosis key to treating epilepsy: expert

VISAKHAPATNAM: A seminar organised by Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IPA) and Indian Epilepsy Association here on Sunday focussed on management of epilepsy and seizures in children. The seminar was organised to mark World Epilepsy Day.

Inaugurating the seminar, Andhra Medical College Principal G. Bhagya Rao underlined the role of physicians in giving a near-normal life to a patient with fits. He spoke on the psychological aspects of epilepsy and the burden on the family as well as society. He lauded IPA President P. Venugopal and Professor of Neurology K. Venkateswarlu for organising the seminar. A number of physicians and paediatricians in and around the city and neighbouring districts participated.

In his lecture on “Problems and pitfalls in management of epilepsy,” Dr. Venkateswarlu detailed the common mistakes made in treatment. He said that while treating epilepsy the most appropriate drug should be prescribed. Since the treatment takes two to three years, taking more medicines would lead to side effects. “Hence proper diagnosis and controlling it with a single drug is crucial,” he observed.

Sometimes fits due to hysteria was confused with neurological symptoms, he said. It was important to recognise the nature of fits and treat them, he pointed out.

Dr. Venkateswarlu felt it was important to recognise the need to send patients for treatment to advanced centres for correct judgment of the condition. Operation was one of the options. Vagal stimulation would be induced through a pacemaker. For children, the treatment was highly specialised where knowledge, technology and experience were crucial.

In his talk on “Refractory seizures in children,” Dr. Venugopal detailed problems in dealing with a case of fits. Difficult cases of epilepsy in tropical and developing countries like India were caused by infections like meningitis and viral encephalitis. He underlined the importance of diagnosing and treating infections early to prevent permanent neurological handicaps and mental retardation among children.

Dr. Venugopal, who is also Professor of Paediatrics in AMC, said children not responding to normal treatment leads to resistant seizures. If the seizures prolong, it would cause status epilepsy which in 50 to 60 per cent of cases led to medical emergency. However, the seizures in cerebral malaria would end with good treatment.

Another problem typical in the district is neuro cysto cercosis, Dr. Venugopal said. Tapeworm from animal food finds its way to the brain and forms a cist. Of the 5 to 10 per cent cases of epilepsy, about 25 per cent are of this nature.

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