National Epilepsy Day: Know Definition, Causes And Treatment Of The Brain Disorder

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease. People with epilepsy experience frequent seizures, which negatively impact their quality of life. Over 50 million individuals worldwide suffer from epilepsy, making it one of the most prevalent disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that millions of Indians suffer from epilepsy, with low-income nations accounting for the majority of instances.

An estimated 70 per cent of epileptics who receive the right care can recover from their seizures. Every year on November 17, India celebrates National Epilepsy Day to raise awareness of the condition. On this occasion, a medical expert explained how epilepsy impacts the brain and what its primary causes are. Additionally, we will learn who is more susceptible to epilepsy and how to treat it.

Dr Atampreet Singh, the Director of the Neurology Department at Fortis Hospital in Greater Noida, said that epilepsy is a disorder of the brain. Simply put, epilepsy is the condition in which a person experiences seizures regularly. More than two instances of seizures in a person is deemed to have epilepsy.

People’s brain growth is negatively impacted by this illness. Neurons in the brain grow improperly because of epilepsy. Children with epilepsy experience abnormal brain development. Epilepsy is a condition that can affect anyone at any age.

According to Dr Singh, the causes of epilepsy vary depending on the age group. Inadequate brain development in young children can result in epilepsy. After birth, if the baby does not cry, this could indicate epilepsy. People between the ages of 10 and 20 years old can develop epilepsy for a variety of causes. Adults with brain disorders might also experience epileptic seizures. In addition, head injuries, brain tumours and brain lumps can cause epilepsy. Meningitis also causes epileptic seizures in a lot of people.

Doctors say toddlers are most affected by epilepsy. Up until the age of ten, there is an increased risk of this illness. Even after the age range of 40 to 50 years, this condition is increasingly prevalent. The age range with the lowest incidence of epilepsy is 10 to 40 years old. Looking at the data from numerous studies, we can see that, on average, 1 to 2 per cent of persons have epilepsy; nevertheless, cases of epilepsy are reported at 0.5 per cent or fewer between the ages of 10 and 40. Aside from this, the most vulnerable individuals are those with brain tumours, lumps, anomalies, head trauma, or hereditary issues.

Dr Atampreet Singh claimed that medication can treat the majority of epileptic patients. Patients for whom medication is ineffectual are treated surgically to address this illness. Currently, brain worms are the cause of around 70 per cent of epilepsy occurrences. This worm can enter the brain through improper washing of cabbage and consumption of tainted water.