Date Posted: 2/26/2018 5:51:16 AM
Posted By: Faimus Membership Level: Gold Total Points: 1012
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which affects the messaging systems in the brain when they are disrupted by electric activity in the brain.Epilepsy can be caused by various factors such as head trauma which may result from hitting one’s head against a hard surface for instance during an accident, brain conditions such as stroke and tumors, infectious diseases such as AIDS, brain damage before birth and development disorders such as autism. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the normal brain function, development of communication and social interaction skills in an individual. In most cases, however, the cause of epilepsy might not be known while in other cases the condition may be inherited from close relatives.There are various symptoms that are common to epilepsy patients and may be used to detect epilepsy in people who are not yet receiving any medical help. Convulsions is the main symptom. These convulsions are without fever. This symptom helps distinguish epilepsy from many other conditions with similar symptoms. The patient may have a short spell of confused memory and may be unable to communicate. This symptom is common after a convulsion. There are also periods of intermittent fainting during which the patient may loose control of the bladder and bowel. The patient also experienced stiffness, sudden bouts of blinking and may be become fearful for no apparent reason. The patient may also have peculiar changes in senses such as smell, touch and sound.There are various drugs in the market which are used to treat epilepsy but the main ones are sodium valporate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and levatiracetam. Not all the medications agree with all patients and therefore the health physician has to find the ideal medication for the patient. The dosage also varies from patient to patient. In most cases the dosage is varied until the doctor finds an ideal dosage for the patient.Patients of epilepsy although they are not considered as disabled people, do face a lot of issues in the society, socially and economically. Patients of epilepsy often face stigmatization and discrimination in the societies where they live. Many people recoil at the idea of associating with people who suffer from epilepsy . These because this people are considered mad or lacking in some way and thus inferior to the rest of the people. Other people fear that by associating with them, they will contract the disease based on the myth that that the disease is communicable. Others avoid them due to personal beliefs. These patients also suffer from depression in many cases. Depression is a mental disorder that already causes low mood for a period of least two weeks. These patients are depressed due low self esteem or discrimination from their relatives or members of their society. In the work force, employers are unwilling to hire people with epilepsy due to financial costs, insurance costs and paid sick leave they have to incur when these patients have seizures while on duty. Their sick leave is also longer than the those of other people since they have to fully recover. The side effects of medication such as drowsiness affect their job performance.Living with a patient of epilepsy requires great care and attention. In most cases, families hire care givers for their relatives who may be suffering from the condition. The care givers have a task in ensuring the safety of the patient in case of a seizure because most times the seizures are unprovoked. The care giver should also call for medical help in case of a seizure if they are not sure of their next course of action. The care giver should spent enough time with the patient to note triggers to their seizures. The care givers should also help the patient in the routine taking of the antiepileptic drugs and join the patients for their hospital appointments so as they can be updated on the health conditions of their patients. The care giver should join the patient in their leisure activities especially if these activities pose a threat to their well being in case of a seizure. The care givers should help their patients familiarize themselves with the environment they dwell in so as to take precautions in case of a seizure.Epilepsy is a condition like any other and is manageable by regular taking of medication. The patients require understanding and attention from their families and members of the society they live in. Discrimination and exclusion only worsens their health condition and make them fully dependent on others. When the seizures are absent, epileptic patients are normal people who can do what others can do. They should be given their place in the society and recognized as normal members of the society and aided whenever they require help.
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