International Epilepsy Day – Health and Wellbeing

Every year on February 12, the world celebrates International Epilepsy Day, which aims to raise awareness of this neurological disease that affects millions of people around the world. The initiative, created by the International Office of Epilepsy (OIE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (Ilae), aims to eliminate the stigma associated with the disease, educate the public and encourage support for those living with epilepsy. Many affected people face stigma and discrimination due to a lack of general knowledge about the disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects approximately 50 million people, making it one of the most common neurological diseases in the world.

What is it and how does it affect people
Its symptoms can vary widely, from short periods of absence to more intense seizures; This diversity highlights the complexity of this condition.

Seizure episodes occur as a result of excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells. They range from short-term problems with attention or muscle spasms to more severe and long-lasting seizures. The frequency of attacks can also vary from once a year to several per day.

A seizure does not necessarily mean epilepsy; Up to 10 percent of people experience at least one seizure in their lifetime, while epilepsy is the presence of two or more unprovoked seizures. Although the causes of the disease are varied or unknown, in about 50 percent of cases, it is important to understand that sporadic seizures do not always indicate the presence of epilepsy.

Some of the reasons:
Brain damage from prenatal and perinatal causes (loss of oxygen or trauma during childbirth, low birth weight);
Congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions associated with brain malformations;
Serious head injuries;
Stroke, which limits the supply of oxygen to the brain;
Brain infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, or neurocysticercosis;
Brain tumors

How is epilepsy treated?
Treatment usually includes medications to help control seizures. In more complex cases, surgery or implantable medical devices may be considered as an option.

In recent years, new techniques have become available, such as the use of robotic surgery for laser ablation, long-term monitoring of seizures over several months, or deep brain stimulation. In the coming years, great advances are expected in the neuroimaging diagnosis of cortical dysplasias and other pathologies that cause epilepsy, thanks to the resonance method. The introduction of chronic electrodes and the development of “closed loop” monitoring systems, together with analysis using big data, will make it possible to identify crises at their onset.

One of the future goals of scientific achievements is the search for genes that cause complex epileptic conditions, which often do not respond to traditional methods of treatment. Finding these genes will help determine what specific and individualized treatment each epilepsy patient requires.

How to help with an epileptic seizure
Stay calm, remember that most epileptic seizures are short-lived and usually do not pose long-term danger;
Protect the person by helping them to the ground to avoid injury from falling. Place something soft under your head to avoid injury;
Remove dangerous objects: Remove any nearby objects that could cause harm during a seizure;
Do not restrain a person during a seizure because once it has started, it is almost impossible to stop an epileptic seizure. You should not try to stop her by yelling, moving her, shaking her, or making her smell strong perfume;
Lay the person on their side to help them breathe easier and stay with them until they are fully conscious;
Be careful about the duration: If a seizure lasts more than five minutes, or if multiple seizures occur without the person regaining consciousness, medical attention should be sought immediately.