Epilepsy

What causes Epilepsy?

• Tumour
• Brain stroke
• Head injury due to an accident
• Brain damage at the time of birth
• Abnormalities in the function of the neurons without any brain damage

Epilepsy can start at any age, but it commonly starts at extremes of age, i.e., in small children and the elderly. A large percentage of children with epilepsy outgrow the problem with age.

How is Epilepsy diagnosed?

It is advisable to plan the treatment with a specialist doctor who treats epilepsy viz a neurologist or an epilepsy expert. However, about 20-30% of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite medications. Some of these patients can benefit with brain surgery. The decision for suitability for surgery depends on detailed investigation results. The following studies are particularly useful in identifying the epileptic firing focus during the presurgical evaluation.

Long Term Video EEG (Electroencephalogram) Evaluation: It is one of the key tests performed to establish the diagnosis of spells whose epileptic nature is not certain and to determine the area in the brain from which the seizures originate (epileptic focus).

3 Tesla MRI: This is very useful in identifying subtle anatomical lesions that may be missed on routine MR images.

Functional MRI: This aspect of MR evaluation studies identifies areas of the brain associated with specific functions like the arm and leg movement, and vision, speech and language. This is useful for non-invasive planning of surgical strategies, such that post-surgical motor, visual or language deficits may be avoided.

SPECT & PET-CT: These are also available to evaluate more challenging patients with focal epilepsy and a normal MRI. These are used to provide visual evidence of the functional epileptic firing focus.

Neuronavigation System: This equipment is available in the operation theatre to provide surgeons with online MR imaging orientation of his surgical field. This greatly improves precision during surgery.

Intraoperative MRI (IMRIS): This system allows the surgeon to perform an MRI study in the operation theatre. This allows the surgeon to ensure complete resection of the epileptogenic lesion, which is crucial for seizure freedom.

Can Epilepsy be treated?

There have been major breakthroughs in epilepsy treatment in the last few years. Over 70% of the people with epilepsy have a good control of their seizures with medications. Several new medications available over the last decade have very few side effects. At present there are over 15 different types of medications available for the treatment of fits.

Epilepsy is not a disease. Epilepsy can be of different types, due to different causes, and can greatly vary in severity as well. Therefore, the treatment of choice and duration will differ from case to case. The correct choice of medication has to be made, with careful consideration by the doctor. With the right medication and advice, most people with epilepsy can lead normal lives.

For immediate care, you may contact the family physician or paediatrician. However, to plan long term care, it is advisable to seek opinion of a specialist doctor who treats epilepsy via a neurologist or an epilepsy expert.

Medications suppress seizures and keep the patient seizure free, but they do not remove the tendency to seizures. A large percentage of patients outgrow the tendency to several episodes of seizures with age, and can eventually discontinue medications.

It is advisable to plan the treatment with a specialist doctor who treats epilepsy viz a neurologist or an epilepsy expert. However, about 20-30% of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite medications. Some of these patients can benefit with brain surgery. The decision for suitability for surgery depends on detailed investigation results. Technological advances like better neuroimaging and long term video EEG (electroencephalogram) evaluation have improved diagnostic accuracy. In rightly chosen patients, surgery is safe and can cure epilepsy. The person can be free of seizures, and may even be able to gradually stop all medications.

Any person who

• Has epilepsy for over two years
• Had two or more disabling seizures per month
• Did not respond to medication, despite a trial of two appropriate AED (Anti Epileptic Drugs) monotherapy or one combination therapy
• Has significant AED toxicity

What are the common dos and donts for an Epileptic?

• Regularity with medications is of utmost importance, even when there are no fits. Even a single missed dose can precipitate a seizure
• If a single dose is forgotten, you can take the dose as soon as you remember. The next dose can be taken as per regular schedule
• Do not change medication brands without consulting your doctor
• Do not stop medications before tests unless specifically asked to do so
• Ensure adequate sleep everyday. Be regular with your sleep and wake up times. About 7-8 hours of sleep per day is ample for a day. Lack of sleep is one of the common factors that triggers seizures
• Dietary restrictions are not required in most of the patients with epilepsy. However, fasting and alcohol should be avoided.
• Ask your doctor about driving, swimming, cycling and handling heavy machinery
• Continue with your regular exercise and non adventure sports

What seizure first aid measures should one be aware of?

In A Patient Having A Major Tonic Clonic Seizure

• Put the patient on a flat surface, turn him/her to one side and watch the clock to note the duration of the event
• Hold the person down gently; ensure he/she is safe. Do not put any object forcibly into the mouth during a seizure. Do not restrain limbs very forcibly
• Allow saliva to drool out of the mouth
• Do not feed water or food until the person is fully awake

In Acute Seizure

• Most seizures stop spontaneously in about 2-3 minutes
• If a major seizure with limb jerking lasts for more than three minutes you will need medical help and emergency medications
• Ask your doctor for a suitable emergency medicine during a seizure

Myth:

Epilepsy is caused because of possession by evil spirits. They should be taken to tantriks and godmen for removing these evil spirits.

Fact:

Epillepsy is because of periodic excessive electricity in the brain that produces abnormal behavior or movments. Please take the person to a qualified medical practitioner for treatment..

Myth:

Epilepsy is contagious. Never touch a patient having seizure. The disease will be passed on to you.

Fact:

Epilepsy is NOT contagious. The patient having seizure needs your help. You will not get Epilepsy by touching the patient.

Myth:

Having a person in the family with epilepsy is a stigma, so this fact should be concealed.

Fact:

It is not a stigma and every effort should be made to remove this stigma through correct knowledge.

Myth:

Epilepsy is a form of madness,so it should be treated in a lunatic asylum.

Fact:

Epilepsy is a disease of the brain,so it should be treated by physicians or neurologists.

Myth:

Children with epilepsy are dull and cannot learn, so they should not be sent to school.

Fact:

Children with epilepsy can be extremely intelligent. There are many examples of high achievers in history who have had epilepsy. Usually it is the stigma against epilepsy which prevents parents from sending their children to school, to learn and achieve their full potential.

Myth:

Women with epilepsy can never have children. So they should not get married.

Fact:

Women with epilepsy can safely get married and they can safely have children under specialist supervision.

Myth:

A seizure can be terminated by putting a key in the patient’s hand or by making the patient smell onions or a leather shoe.

Fact:

KEYS or SHOES do not stop seizures!!! MOST SEIZURES stop AUTOMATICALLY in a couple of minutes.

Turn the patient to one side and put a soft object under his head to prevent injury..

Myth:

Marriage will cure epilepsy

Fact:

Marriage has no impact on treatment of epilepsy.

Our comprehensive Epilepsy programme

The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Programme is organised to provide multi-faceted and holistic epilepsy care. It is equipped to address the needs of:

• Children and adults with epilepsy
• Patients with the first seizure, newly diagnosed epilepsy patients and patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy
• Patients who need epilepsy surgery

Kokilaben Hospital has established a Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Programme for the evaluation of people with epilepsy to provide the best medical and surgical management. Kokilaben Hospital is the first and only centre in Western India that provides state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities for epilepsy evaluation under one umbrella.

Kokilaben Hospital team is committed to extend care to the affected that goes beyond medication and surgery. The Support Group For Epilepsy will meet regularly with patients for the purpose of addressing recurring issues related to medication, education, employment and social issues for patients and caregivers.

The aim of the team is create awareness and remove fears about epilepsy in the community through periodic awareness programmes for the public. With such comprehensive care available, indeed there is lot of scope for improvement in the health of those afflicted with epilepsy as well as for safeguarding the health of those who fall in the high risk group.