Jamshedpur, Nov 23: India is home to 10 million epileptics were around 1% of the total population of the country suffers from the disease.
It affects more than 50 million people worldwide, yet most of us have only a hazy idea of what it is and how sufferers are affected. Although epilepsy is one of the oldest medical conditions on record, it remains wrapped in mystery and myth.
Epilepsy myths have to be dispelled through awareness programmes, said DR. MN Singh Head of Neurosciences Department, Tata Main Hospital at the Continuous Medical Education (CME) programme held on Epilepsy at the TMH on Sunday.
Dr. Singh further informed that more than 80% of the people suffering from epilepsy are living in the rural areas and don�t receive proper medical treatment as a result of which the patient becomes outcast in the society.
With medication, however, 80% cases are treatable. Only 15-20% cases need surgical evaluation if medical management fails. Despite this the most common myth, is that people continue believing in handing over metallic objects or leather shoes to patients to stop epileptic seizures, people believe that it is the metallic object that has helped regain normalcy. Prevailing myths, cultural beliefs, and low awareness are main reasons for this situation, Dr. Singh added.
Dr. Sanjib Sinha from NIMHANS, Bangalore by Video-EEG demonstrated cvarious types of seizure semiology. He also chartered out treatment protocol for various types of epilepsies. Dr. SInha also talked about presurgical evaluation of patients who are candidates for surgery.
Dr. Amit haldar from Kolkata talked about Non-Pharmacological treatment of epilepsy such as Vagus Nerve Stimulation and dietary and life style medications.
Dr. Ashok Sunder, Senior physicians mentioned about the problems associated with elderly epileptics, issues and how it can be overcome.
Dr. Aloka Ray discussed about problems of epileptics during pregnancy as all medicines are not safe during pregnancy.
The problem of the disease in challenged and special children was highlighted by Dr. Divya Neha.
Many doctors from Jamshedpur and outside were present in audience such as Dr. S Raul, Sr. DM Prasad, Dr. Manish Pai, Dr, GN Sharma, Dr. S Prasad, Sr. Mamta Rath Dutta and others.
Earlier during the inaugural function BK Das, VP (CSI) tata Steel was Chief Guest and Dr. DP Samaddar (CMIS,TMH) was the Guest of Honour.
