Epilepsy Myths & Facts

Epilepsy is not a mysterious or shameful disease to be hidden from other people nor does epilepsy lead to feeble mindedness. The Epilepsy disease has been known since earliest times and was described by Hippocrates as ‘the sacred disease’ or ‘falling sickness’. In 1993, the Indian Epilepsy Association declared November 17 as National Epilepsy Day. The term ‘Epilepsy’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘seizures’. It is the name given to symptoms resulting when cells in the brain discharge too much electrical energy.
Epileptics are not invalids and they can study well, hold a job or move in the social order like any other person. Some famous persons, like Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Picasso suffered from this disorder, but still achieved great successes.
The prevalence rate of Epilepsy in the West varies from five to twenty per thousand. A general study suggests that in India about 2 to 9 persons per thousand have this disorder.
In India if an epileptic suddenly faints on the road, nearby people spontaneously try to help the epileptic by giving him an iron bit to hold because of the superstition that this will stop convulsions. But this is wrong. The correct procedure is to make the Epileptic lie down on the floor and then insert a piece of rolled cloth in his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue or lips. There is no need to sprinkle water on his face or rush him to a doctor. He recovers slowly.
Children with epilepsy must be allowed to go to school. Parents must see that they will not feel different or develop an inferiority complex. Unfortunately, there are many schools in India which refuse to admit an epileptic child on the pretext that the other children would be scared, but this is not true. Not only are other students sympathetic towards their epileptic colleague, but they are also helpful.
A person with controlled epilepsy can hold any job except those that involve moving machinery or which are exposed to fire. In several countries, like the Unites States, epileptics are given more job opportunities.
In India, being an overpopulated country, epileptics find it difficult to get jobs, for only a handful of employers sympathize with them and are prepared to employ them. But, employers do not realize that an epileptic is likely to be more sincere and hardworking for fear of losing his job.
When it comes to the question of marriage, there is no harm in an epileptic getting married and he or she can lead a normal family life according to neurologists. But it is unfortunate that, in the Hindu Marriage Act, epilepsy has been clubbed with insanity as a ground for a person to seek a divorce.
In India because of superstitious fear and ignorance several epileptics are denied proper scientific treatment. Now, Epileptics have new medicines which have to be taken continuously for a number of years.

PS Prakasa Rao

https://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=51922