Epilepsy is curable with simple medication
by Shanika Sriyananda
More school dropouts have been reported due to the stigma attached to
epilepsy and lack of awareness among parents about the illness, which is
curable with simple medication.
Senior Consultant Neurologist of the Colombo National Hospital Dr.
Ranjani Gamage said that though epilepsy was curable it was proved that
epileptics could lead normal lives after continuous medication for a
period of time, still some myths related to the illness hinder people
seeking medication.
According to Dr. Gamage epilepsy has been proved to be not a mental
disease or retardation and is a momentary thing which is be easily
treatable with simple and cost effective medication.
She said that the majority of schoolgoing patients avoid schooling
mainly due to the stigma and due to poor help from the primary school
teachers and parents for them to continue with schooling.
"Of the total number of patients seeking medication at the special
unit of the Colombo National Hospital, over 50 per cent of the adult
patients had stopped their education at grade five. Only 25 per cent
have studied up to GCE Ordinary Level", she said adding that out of
300,000 people, over 90 per cent of patients lead very productive lives
and live without the fear of seizure attacks.
Over 70 per cent of the patients get cured totally with continuous
medication and 15 to 20 per cent will get rid of seizures after surgery
but less than 10 per cent of the patients suffer from prolonged epilepsy
as it cannot be controlled due to some serious conditions.
Dr. Gamage who is also the Chairperson of the Epilepsy Task Force (ETF)
said that no islandwide figures of school dropouts were available but
the figures may be much higher as rural communities still believe the
myths related to epilepsy.
" They think that the illness is a result of an evil force and try to
continue with spiritual rituals. One schoolgoing child was referred to
the Clinic with severe burn injuries. Her parents due to ignorance had
put her hand into hot water to prevent her from shivering after an
epileptic attack", she said.
The ETF has selected 'Epilepsy and the schoolchild' as the theme this
year to raise awareness among the parents and schoolteachers the need of
continuing the education despite the illness. "Primary schoolteachers
can play a major role in keeping these children in school.
The problem is when they find a child suffering with an epileptic
seizure they tell the parents to bring the child when fully cured. Since
epilepsy will take three to five years to recover fully these children
won't return to school", she said.
Dr. Gamage said teachers could also play an important role in
diagnosing initial symptoms of epilepsy. "Instead teachers can encourage
children with epilepsy to come to school and they can advise other
children and also the parents about the illness. The only thing that the
teachers could do is help and take extra care about these children when
doing sports", she said.
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