Epilepsy is a long-term brain condition. This condition is not contagious, and it affects about 50 million people all over the world. The issue causes repeated seizures that are short episodes of uncontrollable movement. These seizure-like conditions can either involve just one part of the body (partial) or the whole body (generalized). At times, they might all come with loss of consciousness and loss of control over your bowel or bladder.
Seizure-like conditions happen due to too much electrical activity in a group of brain cells. This condition can occur in various parts of the brain. It shall all vary from small lapses of attention or muscle jerks to severe and long-lasting convulsions. The frequency of seizures might also differ, which shall happen anywhere from less than once a year to multiple times a day.
Having one seizure does not mean someone has an epilepsy-like condition. Approx. 10% of people globally experience a single seizure in their lifetime. Epilepsy, however, is officially diagnosed when a person has two or more unprovoked seizures. It is an ancient condition That has been recognized since 4000 BCE, but it has faced fear. Some of the conditions like misunderstanding, discrimination, and social stigma for centuries. Unfortunately, such stigma can still exist in numerous countries today, which affects the lives of people with epilepsy and their families.
Signs And Symptoms
Characteristics of Epilepsy vary, and it all depends on where in the brain the disturbance first starts. It also depends on how far it spreads.
Temporarily some of the symptoms do occur, like loss of awareness or consciousness, and disturbances of movement, sensation (like vision, hearing, and taste), mood, or some other cognitive functions.
People with epilepsy tend to have more physical problems. Some of it includes fractures and bruising from injuries that are well related to seizures), as well as higher rates of psychological conditions like anxiety and depression.
Similarly, the risk of conditions like premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than in the general population. This can be taken care of with medication like Gabapentin. The highest rates of premature mortality are found in low- and middle-income countries and rural areas.
Rates Of Disease
Epilepsy is a big part of the world’s health concerns. The condition is known for affecting Approximately 50 million people across the globe. The estimated percentage of this general population is seen dealing with active epilepsy. This also means ongoing seizures or needing treatment, which lies between 4 and 10 for every 1000 people at any given time.
On a worldwide scale, approx. 5 million people are seen getting diagnosed with epilepsy every year. In wealthier countries, the yearly diagnosis rate is approx. 49 for every 100,000 people. In those less wealthy countries, it can be as seen higher end as 139 for every 100,000. This difference happens because of enhanced risks related to common conditions including malaria or neurocysticercosis. Some of the more accidents on the road, injuries during birth, access to preventive health programs, differences in medical facilities, and available care. Importantly, almost 80% of people with epilepsy live in countries with lower or medium income levels.
Causes
You cannot catch the condition of Epilepsy from someone else. The issue is not contagious and can be treated with gabapentin. While various factors can lead to Epilepsy, we still Do not know the cause in about half of the cases worldwide. The reasons for epilepsy are well divided into various categories: structural, genetic, metabolic, infectious, immune, and unknown. Other examples are mentioned below:
- Brain damage from prenatal or perinatal factors, including a lack of oxygen or trauma during birth, and low birth weight.
- Congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions that come with brain malformations.
- Severe head injuries.
- Strokes limit oxygen to the brain.
- Brain infections like meningitis, encephalitis, or neurocysticercosis.
- Special genetic syndromes.
- Brain tumors.
Treatment
It is possible to control seizures with Gabapentin. With the right use of antiseizure medicines like Gabapentin, up to 70% of people dealing with epilepsy-like conditions can be free of seizures. When someone might have been seizure-free for 2 years, they might consider stopping antiseizure medicine. This condition considers clinical, social, and personal factors.
The two most reliable predictors of seizure recurrence are a documented cause of the seizure and an abnormal electroencephalography (EEG) pattern.
- Approximately three-quarters of people with the condition of epilepsy do not get the needed treatment, which creates a “treatment gap.”
- Many lower and middle-income countries have limited access to antiseizure medicines like Gabapentin. A recent study has also found that such medications were available in less than 50% of public healthcare facilities. In such countries, it is harder for people to get the treatment they need.
- Most people with epilepsy-like conditions can be diagnosed and treated at the basic healthcare level without needing that advanced equipment.
- WHO pilot projects have all shown that training primary healthcare providers to diagnose and treat epilepsy can effectively lower the treatment gap.
- Surgery might be quite beneficial for patients who do not respond well to drug treatments.
Prevention
An estimated 25% of Epilepsy cases are potentially preventable with medication like Gabapentin.
- Do not get into head injuries, like preventing falls, traffic accidents, and some sports injuries, which is the best way to steer clear of post-traumatic epilepsy.
- Good care during pregnancy and childbirth can lower the chances of epilepsy caused by birth injuries.
- Making use of some medications and other methods shall all bring down a fever in a child that can lower the risk of seizures caused by fevers
- For further preventing epilepsy, which is linked to strokes, the focus is on lowering the heart-related risks.
Some of it can include taking steps to prevent or further manage high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, and steering clear of tobacco and excessive use of alcohol.
- In some of the tropical areas, where many lower- and middle-income countries are found, infections in the central nervous system are common causes of epilepsy.
Further, getting rid of parasites and educating people on avoiding some common infections can effectively lower epilepsy worldwide, including cases caused by neurocysticercosis.
Under certain circumstances, the consumption of gabapentin can help!
Conclusion
People with epilepsy might face challenges like limited access to education and restrictions on getting a driver’s license. Some other challenges include barriers to certain jobs and less access to health and life insurance. In numerous countries, laws reflect long-standing misunderstandings about epilepsy. It includes allowing the dissolution of a marriage or denying entry to public places including restaurants, theaters, and recreational centers for individuals with seizures. Gabapin can help such people.
Laws that are based on globally accepted human rights standards can further prevent discrimination and rights violations, enhancing access to healthcare services. It also helps in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy.