Ceasing the seizures
courtesy of Medscape
courtesy of Medscape

— and debunking some common myths of epilepsy

NOT much is often heard about epilepsy in Guyana, largely because it is not a condition that is endemic here, and the cases that do occur, seldom if ever, gain the spotlight except in cases that result in death.
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is characterised by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement.
It may involve a part of the body or the entire body and sometimes, it is accompanied by the loss of consciousness and the control of bowel or bladder functions.
The WHO explains that the seizure episodes are as a result of excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells, and pointed out that different parts of the brain can be the site of such discharges.

Seizures can vary from brief to severe and prolonged convulsions and in terms of frequency, can vary from one per year to several per day.
One seizure is not an indication of epilepsy since about 10 per cent of people worldwide have one seizure in their lifetime, the WHO said, elaborating that the condition is evident when a person experiences two or more unprovoked attacks.
These often result in temporary loss of awareness and disturbances of movement, sensation, mood or other cognitive factors.
In Guyana, while there are a number of cases, there is no national data collection on epilepsy, even though the condition affects both the young and old.
And when it happens, it could be a temporary knockout blow.

Many epileptics are intelligent people: University of Guyana (UG) medical student, Christopher France, taking his medication during a period of study

Christopher France, 23, told then Guyana Chronicle that his first seizure occurred when he was 13, the second at 20, followed by multiple occurrences.
On most of these both occasions, he could vaguely remember what happened to him.
“I cannot fully remember what happened, during the last attack I was in bed and I fell asleep following the attack and when I woke up, I had another attack, and I fell asleep again.”

Dental student, La Quanza Williams

For La Quanza Williams, a dental student at the University of Guyana (UG), her experience was a little worst.
“One month ago I was in Church’s Chicken eating ice-cream when I suffered an attack. All was going well when I felt light-headed, my vision started to get blurred and all I could remember after was that I fell to the ground. When I woke up, I was in the hospital,” related Williams.
That was one of several attacks she had suffered since she experienced her first in 2015.
This is what you do if you suffer an epilepsy attack.

France said his experiences drove him to join the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana, an organisation founded by Dr Thomas Singh, a professor of economics at the University of Guyana (UG), who was an epileptic in his younger days.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana was formed in 2014, and since coming on stream it has been at the forefront in advocating for care and treatment of persons with epilepsy, as well as raising awareness of the illness.

This includes dispelling the myths about epilepsy.

Common myths about epilepsy

  • People with epilepsy are demon-possessed
  • Epileptics are mad people
  • People with epilepsy are disabled and cannot work
  • People can swallow their tongue during a seizure
  • Epilepsy is a mental health condition
  • Epilepsy is contagious

Since the formation of the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana, more than 100 cases have been referred to doctors both at private and public health institutions.
Some of these patients are treated by Dr Malika Mootoo, who said the majority of them are children, and some of the cases are severe.
The condition that affects most people is called idiopathic epilepsy which has no identifiable cause.
Symptomatic epilepsy on the other hand has identifiable causes and these include brain damage from prenatal injuries, congenital abnormalities and severe head injury.
Treatment in Guyana is not always easy.

From time to time there are shortages of anti-epilepsy drugs, and with only one neurologist in Guyana, cases are tended to by general physicians who dispense treatment to the best of their ability.
France and Dr Mootoo told this publication that the local health system is not well-equipped to treat epilepsy cases, and that the Epilepsy Foundation has been making diligent efforts to help affected persons.

EARLY DETECTION

Early detection of epilepsy is essential to avoiding an attack and the Foundation will soon be acquiring an Electroencephalography (EEG) machine to help in this regard. The machine will be the first in Guyana.
This aside, the foundation has been able to get a US neurologist to come here and treat affected persons, as well as train health personnel to handle epilepsy cases.
It is also in the process of establishing a data base of epilepsy cases in Guyana, and in the meantime members have established a social networking group, which facilitates the sharing of information and advice among affected persons.
In addition, the Foundation has been visiting schools and other organisations to raise awareness about epilepsy.

On their part, both France and Williams told Guyana Chronicle that they have been able to cope with the illness through the support of their families and friends and taking their mediations as prescribed by their doctors.
France, who is a director of the Foundation, also advised that persons who suffer epilepsy attacks must seek professional help.
“When you get an attack, it is best in the interest of your health that you call your doctor and not your pastor,” he urged.

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