STATISTICS holds that an estimate of 50 million people worldwide, across all ages, is burdened by epilepsy.
As of 2002, at least 750,000 Filipinos have been identified with this misunderstood disorder.
As such, lack of awareness and understanding about epilepsy leads to misconceptions, social stigma, and hinders access to effective treatment.
In 2014, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) adopted a new definition of Epilepsy: a disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition.
This new definition draws a clear line between epilepsy and seizure. It makes seizure an event while an epilepsy a disease requiring unprovoked seizure.
Medical science likewise points that epilepsy can have serious medical consequences and is both an economic and social burden to humanity.
Perhaps it is by these facts that the then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had inked into law Proclamation No. 230 dated August 12, 2002 declaring the first week of September every year as the “National Epilepsy Awareness Week”.
For ILAE, a person is said to have epilepsy if they meet any of the following conditions:
1. At least two unprovoked (reflex) seizures [ the seizure was not due from an injury, for example] occurring greater than 24 hours apart
2. One seizure leads to another, although it may not be precisely known ( or simply put, a seizure occurring after two consecutive seizures within 10 years span)
3. Epilepsy begins as syndromes such as benign epilepsy, which is usually outgrown by age 16 and always by age 21. If a person is past this age, then his epilepsy is resolved.
Consistent to this health awareness week, the following are some of the Myths and Facts surrounding Epilepsy from various sources:
Myth1: People with epilepsy lose consciousness and have convulsions.
Fact: Seizures can present a brief loss of awareness, or confusion or disorientation, to major convulsion.
Myth 2: Epilepsy cannot be controlled
Fact: There is no cure yet for epilepsy but there are medicines that could control it. In fact, surgeries and diet therapy are among available options that could offer safe control of future attacks.
Myth 3: Epilepsy is a lifelong disorder
Fact: Some childhood epilepsies are outgrown and greater than 70 percent of people with epilepsy become seizure free with medications. In fact, some doctors wean the patients from medications if the latter have been seizure-free for 2 years straight.
Myth 4: People cannot die from epilepsy
Fact: Epilepsy can claim lives of its victims not directly but through tragedies such as drowning, suffocation, burns and falls during and after seizure.
Myth 5: Only children get epilepsy
Fact: Epilepsy can occur at any age although it is fairly common among children. Later-life onset epilepsies can lead to stroke or heart diseases
Myth 6: All epilepsies are genetic
Fact: Not all epilepsies have genetic basis. In fact, the risk of passing this disorder is low. Studies have shown that what is inherited is the predisposition to develop seizure and not epilepsies.
Myth 7: You should place something in the victim’s mouth to stop them from swallowing their tongue during a seizure
Fact: It is physically impossible to swallow the tongue although it can block the airway if the victim is lying on his back. You may position the person to his side after an attack/ jerking and tilting the head slightly to rectify this. You can harm yourself or cause the victim fracture in an attempt to force something to the mouth.
Myth 8: Restrain the victim in active seizure
Fact: Never restrain the victim as it may cause fractures. Instead, provide safety to the person by moving them out of dangerous places such as the road or near bodies of water until they regain consciousness.
Myth 9: Slapping the victim in active seizure will “snap” them out
Fact: There is nothing you can do to stop the seizure. The best thing to do is to stay with them to provide safety and reassurance.
Myth 10. Epilepsy is a mental illness
Fact: Epilepsy is not a mental illness. It also does not predispose one to mental illness. Seizures are disruptions of the electrical activity of the brain. Although some mentally ill patients do have seizures but majority do not have epilepsy.
Sources: World Health Organization; Epilepsy Action Philippines; Department of Health
The writer is a medical professional who has been writing as a health columnist of this paper since 2008. He is usually published every Tuesday and Friday. Currently, he is a fulltime faculty member of Southwestern University-Phinma School of Medicine.
[polo.journalist@gmail.com]