Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, not a mental disorder: Doctors

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder and not a mental disorder said doctors dispelling misconceptionsEpilepsy presents with a myriad of symptoms Loss of consciousness jerking of hands and legs falls and frothing from the mouth loss of bowel and bladder control are the classical symptomsNotably seizures can vary with some manifesting as a sudden interruption in speech and a vacant stare rapid blinking of the eyes and confusion unexplained fear visual hallucinations underlining the multifaceted nature of epilepsyHowever it is not a mental disorder but ldquoneurologicalrdquo Dr Siby Gopinath epileptologist and Professor of Neurology at Amrita Hospital in KochildquoEpilepsy can develop at any age and seizures can manifest in various forms Contrary to beliefs epilepsy does not always involve convulsive movements and does not necessarily affect intellectual capacityrdquo Gopinath saidldquoEpilepsy majorly characterised by recurrent seizures is often a symptom of an underlying neurological issue One such connection lies with brain tumours abnormal growths of tissue in the brainrdquo added Dr Aditya Gupta director ndash Cyberknife Artemis Hospital in GurugramStudies indicate that individuals with brain tumours are more susceptible to epilepsy and seizures can serve as an early warning sign of an undiagnosed tumour The intricate relationship between these two conditions necessitates a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatmentOther factors that contribute to the risk of epilepsy in younger age including premature birth low birth weight low oxygen or blood glucose levels at birth structural malformations in the brain etcAdditional risk factors involve infections like meningitis cerebral palsy developmental disabilities autism a family history of epilepsy Conditions like stroke and latestage dementia can cause epilepsy in old ageEpilepsy is one of the common neurological disorders and in India itself we have more than 10000000 patients affected with epilepsy India faces a profound treatment gap leaving 22 per cent untreated in urban areas and a staggering 90 per cent in rural regions However the gravity of the situation extends beyond numbersrdquo Gopinath saidManagement of epilepsy predominantly relies on antiseizure medications with positive responses observed in 7075 per cent of patients For some cyberknife radiosurgery can also be an optionGupta stressed the importance of raising awareness as the first step to effective managementDespite the evident links between epilepsy and other brain conditions public awareness often remains limited Advocacy and education are crucial to empower individuals with knowledge about these connections enabling early detection and intervention Community outreach programmes informational campaigns and collaboration between healthcare professionals and advocacy groups can play a pivotal role in disseminating this vital informationrdquo he notedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever