KARACHI, Jan 23: Epilepsy, mainly a biological phenomenon, is treatable but not preventable. However, it can be prevented in the instance of damage caused to the brain during child delivery.
Prof Hasan Aziz, a seasoned neurologist and coordinator of the National Epilepsy Control Programme, said here on Tuesday that improved obstetric facilities and easy availability of competent professionals could help prevent epilepsy in a considerable number of children.
“Safe child birth is important and so is the fact that brain injuries must be curtailed,” he said.
In reply to a question, the neurologist stressed the importance of appropriate handling of head injuries that could cause blood clotting in the brain. Vehicular accidents as well as occupational mishaps may also lead to the condition.
The neurologist mentioned that population based data, generated by the NECP as well as the Neurology Department of the JPMC over the years, revealed that epilepsy was twice more common in the rural areas because of inadequate obstetric care as well as increased vulnerability to infections.
Brain infections such as meningitis were also enumerated as an important cause of epilepsy in the locals.
“Epilepsy is basically a cyclic phenomenon in which some thing goes haywire in the brain where electricity develops short-circuit,” the neurologist said while describing the condition.
The senior medical professional stressed the fact that epilepsy was absolutely no disability and the people suffering from it could have as high IQ level as any other non-epileptic person.
He said there was no dearth of prominent personalities, from different walks of life, who had epilepsy.
“The seizure a person with epilepsy experiences can be effectively curtailed and controlled through medication, which must be administered under the supervision of a qualified medical professional,” he said.
Answering a question, he said a major cause of concern for him was the fact that many of the people diagnosed with epilepsy could not be motivated to ensure regular medication.
“Resource constraint was not the sole factor but it was the fact that we as a nation do not plan out for health and it is only in case of emergency that we rush for medical support and intervention,” Prof Hasan Aziz said.
The neurologist also mentioned that a wide range of drugs to control epilepsy was available in the market and these include medicines which were extremely cost-effective.
“Regular medication with the provision for proper monitory of its impact by a qualified medical professional is extremely important to avoid seizures,” he said.
The neurologist mentioned that although children had about more than twice chances to have seizures as compared to adults, by age of 30 and above a lot many of them stop experiencing the attack naturally.
The seizures appear more during the first two decades of life of the babies born with epilepsy and due to regular drug therapy often are able to experience no more seizures.
Monitoring and supervision of a qualified medical professional is particularly important as the anti-epileptic drugs may cause drowsiness, nausea, loss of appetite, particularly among children. —APP
