Mental Health: Managing Epilepsy and its effects

Over 50 million people have epilepsy according to the World Health Organization.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes unprovoked or recurrent seizures.

Epilepsy specialist at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Dr.Gilbert Katana explains what this condition is, “If you get more than one seizure in less than 24 hours without having a high fever, severe flu or infection/disease such as Meningitis or Cerebral Malaria then it is epilepsy. We have to conduct tests to identify what is causing the seizures.” 

People with epilepsy tend to have more physical injuries (such as fractures and bruising from injuries related to seizures), as well as higher rates of psychological conditions, including anxiety and depression.

Dr. Katana explains,“there is a great connection between mental health and epilepsy in terms of the patients, caretakers and caregivers; and in terms of what people with epilepsy go through in the society in a day-to-day basis.”

Causes of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is not contagious and one can get epilepsy at any given age.

Causes can vary from structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune, and some are unknown.

Brain damage from prenatal and perinatal causes e.g. loss of oxygen or trauma during birth which may arise in prolonged labour.

A child may also be born with brain complications if the mother fails to get enough minerals needed for formation of the brain during the pregnancy.

According to Dr. Katana, there are different causes and types of epilepsy.

Neurological complications may arise from diseases such as swelling in the brain i.e. brain tumors; some are caused by strokes that may arise fromconditions such as blood pressure.

“High blood pressure may cause a burst in the brain which in turn may result into bleeding in the brain hence causing brain complications,” said Dr. Katana.

One can get epilepsy at any age given as there are several causes for the disease.

“When a person is involved in an accident that causes injury to the brain, for example, road accident or even an attack, then they are at a higher risk of getting epilepsy,” says Dr. Katana. 

Some health conditions like stroke and diabetes may also lead to epilepsy.

“Genetic conditions may also lead to epilepsy. There are also other factors like malformation of the brain, conditions like hydrocephalus.” he adds.

So, what are the signs and symptoms of epilepsy?

“There are different signs of epilepsy because there are also different types of epilepsy,” 

“While in a conversation, the person may suddenly go quiet then lose consciousness for a while,” Dr.Katana continues. 

In some instances, a person having a seizure may violently flail their arms and legs and even foam in the mouth. Some patients may experience mental breakdowns and start running and later lose consciousness and fall.

How to help someone having a seizure

When assisting someone experiencing a seizure, you should not panic.

“If there are things that may harm the patient in the surrounding area, remove them because they are not aware of their surroundings,” said the medic.

You should also loosen their clothing, for example, if they had a tie on remove it, you can also unbutton their shirts and take off their necklaces and other things that may harm them.

Dr. Katana also says the helper should allow the patient to go through with the seizure and when they have started to calm down, make them lie on their side.

Do not allow anyone to place anything in the person’s mouth.

“Sometimes it may seem that they are biting their lips or are foaming or bleeding through the mouth, you should not put anything in their mouth because during seizures, people are always stronger than usual so they risk harming themselves or even choking,” said Dr. Katana.

If the seizure lasts more than five minutes, Dr. Katana advises the one assisting to immediately seek help from the nearest health centre as prolonged seizures cause more damage to the brain.

Treatment of Epilepsy

“When treating epilepsy, we consider the factors that led to the seizures,” explains Dr. Katana.

In childhood epilepsy, some of the children outgrow the disease if they receive treatment.

If the cause of the seizure is a brain tumor, then the affected person has to undergo a brain surgery to remove the tumor.

“In some cases of seizures, there are drugs administered. If one goes for more than five years without experiencing a seizure then the person is said to be cured. However, if the person comes across the factors that led to the seizures, and then he/she is advised to seek help,” said the epilepsy doctor.

Prevention of Epilepsy

Even though some cases of epilepsy are genetic and some are unknown, others are possible to prevent.

According to WHO, preventing head injury is the most effective way to prevent post-traumatic epilepsy.

Adequate perinatal care (period during pregnancy and after giving birth)can reduce new cases of epilepsy caused by birth injury. Pregnant women should also have food with enough minerals for brain formation during pregnancies.

Use of drugs and other methods to lower the body temperature of a feverish child can reduce the chance of febrile seizures.

Taking measures to prevent or control high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity; and the avoidance of tobacco and excessive alcohol use will help prevent epilepsy associated with stroke.