Epilepsy is adisorder, not a disease! Epilepsy is not contagious. Epilepsy is a physicalcondition which is characterised by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Picture: Epilepsy South Africa
In a lot of African black communities, epilepsy is seen as associated with witchcraft or mental illness, which results in people with epilepsy being outcasts by society and often dangerous rituals are performed on them in an attempt to cure them.
“I believe that such people are bewitched, it’s either they are mad or have evil spirits that’s why they have fits,” said Nozuko Maqojana of Quigney.
“When one eats too much sweet stuff or fatty foods they can get it,” said Aza Gcinindawo of Southernwood. “It’s contagious, people believe that if an epileptic person burps in front of you during their seizure you can get it too,” says Sam Feketha, also of Southernwood.
“It’s an embarrassing sickness because often it happens in front of people,” said Zimvo Bango of Southernwood.
Some people believe that epilepsy is caused by evil spirits or demon possession. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! Epilepsy is a disorder, not a disease, illness or psychiatric disorder nor mental illness. Epilepsy is not contagious. Epilepsy is a physical condition which is characterised by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition that affects people of all ages, at all levels of intelligence and from all social backgrounds. It affects at least one in every 100 people in South Africa. There are several types of epilepsy which are generally divided into two main categories, namely: generalised seizures and partial seizures. Generalised seizures occur when the excessive electrical activity in the brain encompasses the entire organ, during which there may be a loss of consciousness. Partial seizures occur when the excessive electrical activity is limited to one area in the brain, which causes either a simple partial seizures or complex partial seizures. For a person with epilepsy co-operation with their doctor is essential to establish the optimum control of the condition. About 80% of people living with epilepsy can effectively control their seizures with medication or diets. If appropriate support services are readily available, more people will experience improved quality of life.
Mihlali Tiso from Amalinda in East London is 25 years old and has been living with epilepsy for seven years, “I was never born epileptic, I first noticed I was epileptic at the age of 17 years in Grade Seven,” said Mihlali. She says she was a substance abuser and she was told by doctors that’s what caused her epilepsy.
In approximately 66 % of cases the underlying cause of the epilepsy is unknown. This is called idiopathic epilepsy. In the rest of the cases, the underlying cause can be identified. This is called symptomatic epilepsy. With symptomatic epilepsy there can be different underlying causes for instance:
• As a result of head injury that can occur at any age
• Birth injury (lack of oxygen during birth)
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Degeneration (getting older)
• Metabolic or biochemical disturbances or imbalance
“I’ve accepted living with epilepsy, I lead a normal life like everyone else but it wasn’t easy at first.” Mihlali is originally from Grahamstown and says her family rejected her after she had her first seizure and sent her to Fort England Hospital in Grahamstown.
“At home they said I was mad and possessed with evil spirits. It hurt me that they would treat me like that so I ran away from home and ended up on the streets of East London. That’s when the woman who adopted me took me in to live with her and I now take my treatment at Braelyn Clinic. The family that I live with now accepted and understands my condition and treats me well,” said Mihlali.
Epilepsy South Africa is the only registered national body that provides holistic services to people with epilepsy and other disabilities that are needs based.
Karen Robinson, the National Office Social Worker from Epilepsy South Africa said that a sad fact is that people are being discriminated against on a daily basis just because they have epilepsy. A lot of children are not allowed at mainstream schools and adults sometimes are fired at the work place, people are being physically and psychologically abused just because they have epilepsy. Most of the discrimination happens in the communities due to a lack of sufficient knowledge on epilepsy.
Therefore the biggest role of Epilepsy South Africa is to create awareness on correct information of epilepsy to everyone in South Africa.
There are first-aid measures to helping a person who has a seizure: time how long the seizure lasts, cushion the person’s head, remove harmful objects anywhere near the person, do not restrict their movement, roll the person into their side to aid breathing, and do not force anything into the person’s mouth, stay with the person and reassure them until fully recovered and call an ambulance if the person seizure lasts longer than six minutes.
For more information on epilepsy and related conditions, contact Karen Robinson of Epilepsy South Africa National Office 021 595 4900 or email socdev.no@epilepsy.org.za – WSU-SNA
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