Five Lies about Epilepsy

1.     Epilepsy is caused by evil possession

Epilepsy is a disease just like any other kind of disease and with good management, a number of people will become seizure-free. The disease is caused by abnormal activation of some neurons in the brain.

2. Epilepsy is contagious

Some individuals think that touching or hugging someone with epilepsy might pass the illness from one person to the next. This is also a lie,  epilepsy is not contagious! 

3. Clenching of the teeth causes death or is a sign of impending death 

Those of us who have observed multiple seizures are well aware that this assertion is false.  

Teeth clenching describes the tonic phase of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure or a tonic seizure in which muscles in different parts of the body are contracted  for a few seconds.  The contraction may affect the muscles of the face as well, leading to clenching of the teeth. 

I have heard of scenarios in which some people have attempted to prevent teeth clenching by inserting a spoon, finger, or stick between the teeth of the patient, this has resulted in injury to both the patient and the one attempting to push things into the patient's mouth.

Seizure Disorders and Epilepsy

What are seizures?

Seizures are abnormal movements or sensations that occurs as a result of excessive activities of some parts of the brain. The manifestation depends on the part of the brain affected, for example if the area affected is responsible for movement, abnormal movements like jerking may be observed. In severe cases, it leads to loss of consciousness.

When seizures occur repeatedly over several days, it is called epilepsy.  Occasionally, a doctor may make a diagnosis of epilepsy after a single seizure.