Awareness about epilepsy must, still 80% cases untreated: Padma Shri Dr Shah

Ahmedabad:A Special Epilepsy Awareness Seminar was organised here which was among other also attended by world renowned young girl from Canada Ms Cassidy Megan, founder of International Purple Day movement, which is an initiative dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide.

During the seminar president of the Ahmedabad Chapter of the Indian Epilepsy Association and Director of Neurology Padma Shri Dr Sudhir Shah said that awareness about the medical aspects of the disease was highly needed as almost 80% of the cases across the country did not get any medical treatment.

He said that it was a myth that it was caused by hereditary. ‘Only 5 to 10% cases are due to genetic reasons and others are due to other reasons and 70% of the patients who start medication get completely cured in 3 to 5 years,’ he said.
Megan shared her experience and how she started the purple day movement. She said that she was almost 7 years old when she had the first epileptic seizure. ‘Initially I got scared and thought whether I am the only person with this problem. But later I decided to find out persons with epilepsy and spread more and more awareness about it. As the official colour for the disease was purple we named 26 March as Purple day. On this day we decided to dress in purple and spread awareness about it,’ she said.

The Seminar today was organized by Sterling Hospitals, in association with Indian Epilepsy Association (Ahmedabad Branch), Epilepsy Foundation and Academy of Neurologists of Ahmedabad at JB Auditorium, AMA here.

Founder, Trustee Chairman – Epilepsy Foundation, Mumbai, Dr Nirmal Surya said that during seizures crowd should not be gathered around the patients. They should not be given water or any liquid to prevent choking. ‘They should also not be smelt shoes and onions as such exercises were of no use. Normally an epileptic seizure lasts for around 2 minutes after which the patients recovers and becomes normal. If it lasts for long then he or she should be taken to hospitals,’ Surya said.

President – Ahmedabad Neurology Academy, Dr Mayank Patel said that there were different kinds of epilepsy and many of them were curable.

On the occasion, Dr Sudhir Shah, also launched his latest book – “Epilepsy – A Patient Education Guide” at the hands of Ms Cassidy Megan.

DeshGujarat