Epilepsy is a chronic condition, where there is paroxysmal, excessive discharge from the nerve cells of the brain triggering abnormal activity in the body . The form of epilepsy with which people are familiar is the sudden episodic outwards flinging of the limbs with protrusion of the tongue and frothing at the mouth. Out of ignorance many people consider this to be a result of witch craft or possession by demons or spirits.
Epilepsy is a chronic condition, where there is paroxysmal, excessive discharge from the nerve cells of the brain triggering abnormal activity in the body . The form of epilepsy with which people are familiar is the sudden episodic outwards flinging of the limbs with protrusion of the tongue and frothing at the mouth. Out of ignorance many people consider this to be a result of witch craft or possession by demons or spirits. This is the grandma epilepsy or generalized tonic , clonic seizures.
But many people are totally ignorant about the other form of epilepsy known as ,”petitmal epilepsy”. In this, instead of the dramatic flinging of limbs, one suddenly gets,” detached”, for few minutes. There is sudden staring in space with a vacant look. For this reason, it is also called as, "absence seizures”. This may be associated with grimacing movements of the face. This mostly ends in few minutes. A hand on the shoulder or a call is not heeded to by the affected person and he does not respond. This may offend the onlooker because the individual seems to be normal. Rarely it may continue for a longer time, when it is known as status epilepticus
This form of epilepsy mostly occurs in young children, adolescents and teenagers. It may change into grandmal epilepsy as the child grows or it may continue in adulthood also. In some fortunate persons, the attacks stop once the person is grown up.
A youngster sitting in the classroom may suddenly stop talking and have a vacant gaze. This can irk the teacher. His classmates mock at him considering him to be,”too proud’, or worst still mad. At home also if the parents and other family members do not understand the situation, they scold him unnecessarily for being disrespectful or silly.
This young person has to suffer at hands of others only because of ignorance on their part regarding ,”petitmal epilepsy”. If the child gets an episode of petitmal epilepsy while playing or swimming, it is dangerous. In the brief period that he loses his orientation around, he may injure himself.
In some individuals, petitmal epilepsy is hereditary. Petitmal epilepsy can be due to injury caused to the brain during birth either due to prolonged labor or instrumentation as occurs in forceps delivery. Premature birth, congenital brain defects are other causes leading to petitmal epilepsy.
In older children, adolescents and teenagers, infections of the brain like encephalitis or meningitis can cause petitmal epilepsy. Tumors of the brain can also induce these type of seizures. Any metabolic disturbance like hypoglycemia (low sugar in the blood), can also precipitate this kind of epilepsy.
Whatever maybe the cause for it, but this type of epilepsy also causes much suffering to the affected individual. It needs a high degree of suspicion to diagnose it. Unknowingly, one can tend to confuse it with psychosis.
Diagnosis is confirmed by doing an electroencephalogram,(tracing of the brain’s electric activity). Petitmal epilepsy is diagnosed by the typical pattern of electric activity it creates. Other tests like blood tests, various scans of the brain, e.t.c. are needed to know the underlying cause.
Treatment consists in treating the cause if possible.
Antiepileptic drugs are the ones which help to stop the convulsions or seizures. In case of primary petitmal epilepsy,( the one with no known cause) and some cases secondary to some underlying illness, the patient has to take antiepileptic drugs for life to prevent recurrence of seizures. In this case one has to be vigilant about the side effects of these drugs.
The family of the affected individual should be very careful, particularly if he happens to be a child. He should not be allowed to watch T.V. or electronic games for long, as the bright flickering lights can induce a seizure. He should also be kept away from crowded places. In school the authorities should be informed about the child’s illness, so that in case of any emergency he can receive proper treatment.
There is no need to be afraid of petitmal seizures. With proper precautions and adequate medication, an individual can lead a normal active life.