Indore: Renowned neurologist Dr Apoorva Pauranik on Thursday said that the parents of the girls suffering from epilepsy should let them study as much as they want and should motivate them to be self-dependent to fight the social stigma.
Addressing an awareness meet of epilepsy on Thursday, Dr Pauranik said, “Children and women are more vulnerable to the disease and they have to face ordeal due to the unawareness in the society. It is one of the common neurological problems in the world and more than 12 million people in India are suffering from the disease, contributing the one-sixth of global burden.”
Talking about the number of patients in Indore, the neurologist said that about 30,000-32000 people in Indore are suffering from epilepsy and almost half of them are women.
“Moreover, out of these half women, half of them are of reproductive age and the social stigma related to the disease affects their life. Due to the same, I believe that parents should let the girls study and be self dependent so that they can face any situation and suppress the social pressure,” he added.
Talking about myths related to the disease, Dr Pauranik said, “Some of the myths related to the disease includes that marriage can cure epilepsy or it occurs due to the sins of previous life. However, people in our society can accept a man suffering from epilepsy but a woman is not accepted.”
No treatment of epilepsy can affect fertility, pregnancy, contraception and foetal development at some context if not treated properly.
Delay in treatment can prove fatal
Paediatric epileptologist Dr Rachana Dubey said that delay in treatment of epilepsy in children can prove fatal. “The disease remains undetected even by the doctors as it has different symptoms in the children from neonatal to adolescent age,” she said adding “Children suffering from epilepsy can live a normal life and he would not have to take medicines in 2-5 years if getting treatment regularly.”
What is epilepsy?
A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
EPILEPSY EPISODE
