World Epilepsy Day – 5 expert-recommended tips parents of chidren with epilepsy must follow

Paediatric neurologist, Dr Neetu Desai from Hinduja hospital says that parents with an epileptic child should keep these tips in mind.

Anuradha Varanasi | Updated: November 17, 2016 9:30 pm

Studies estimate that worldwide, there are around 70 million people living with epilepsy out of which nearly 12 million patients are in India. Going by these numbers, experts have found that nearly one-sixth of these epilepsy patients worldwide are Indians [1]. In fact, epilepsy is the second most common neurological condition and has been well-known for more than 2,000 years. Here’s all you need to know about epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy among children in India is estimated to be 22.2 among 1,000 children between the ages of 8-12 years. These are the things you should know if you have a loved one with epilepsy. This neurological condition among children is recognised with signs such as seizures, fainting spells, breath holding, migraines, psychological and stomach problems. As a parent, it can be overwhelming taking care of a child with epilepsy and ensuring that he lives a normal life despite the neurological condition. Dr Neelu Desai, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, PD Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai says that parents who have an epileptic child should keep these tips in mind.

1. Make your child take his medicines regularly

Parents make the mistake of discontinuing their child’s medicines once they observe that he is doing fine. However, Dr Desai strongly advises against doing and says that you should first consult your doctor before making any such decisions. Here’s all that you need to know about medicines for epilepsy.

2. Don’t be over-protective

As a parent, when your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, it is normal to be worried about their well-being and how he will adapt to a normal school life. However, avoid being over-protective of your child. ‘Involve him in various extra-curricular activities and let him play sports if he wants to,’ says Desai.

3. Inform your child’s school beforehand

Despite how common epilepsy is among children, unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding the condition due to which parents hesitate to inform their child’s teachers. These are the top myths about epilepsy that need to be busted. Dr Desai says it is very important for the parents of an epileptic child to inform the school authorities and also keep their child’s teach in the loop about the condition.

4. Don’t get depressed

Dr Desai says that many parents end up feeling depressed once their child is diagnosed with epilepsy. The good news is that in 70-80% of cases, epilepsy can easily be controlled in children with the help of medicines. ‘Only 20-30% of children with epilepsy need to undergo surgery or be put on a ketogenic diet following which even they are able to lead a normal life,’ explains Dr Desai. Here’s what you need to know about a ketogenic diet for preventing epileptic attacks.

5. Understand the triggers for seizures

Ensure that your child is sleeping on time and getting adequate sleep as sleep deprivation is a common trigger for seizures in epileptic children. Recognize and understand what triggers seizures in your child. Other causes could be not taking medicines regularly, fever and photosensitivity. In some cases, epileptic children exposed to bright or flashing lights could suffer from a seizure which is known as photosensitivity.

Reference:

[1] Amudhan S, Gururaj G, Satishchandra P. Epilepsy in India I: Epidemiology and public health. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2015;18(3):263-277. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.160093.

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Published: September 20, 2016 3:54 pm | Updated:November 17, 2016 9:30 pm

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