World Brain Day: Focus on epilepsy

Cameroonians have joined the international community to commemorate World Brain Day this 22nd July 2015 under the theme “Epilepsy is more than seizures”.

Focus this year has been placed on epilepsy, a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions, generally referred to as seizures.

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) says epilepsy is a common chronic brain disease yet the public and even physicians still have some misconceptions about it.

In Cameroon the prevalence of epilepsy is at six to 13.5 per cent meanwhile over 50 million people worldwide are hit by the disease.

Renowned neurologist, Professor Alfred Njamshi explains that patients could be treated and cured using drugs or surgery in extreme cases.

The causes of epilepsy are many ranging from brain trauma to head injuries, brain tumours, neurological infections, stroke or genetic issues, amongst others.

As opposed to the common belief that touching an epilepsy patient’s urine or saliva is harmful, health experts emphasise that the disease is not contagious.

In order to manage the condition, medical practitioners say any cases of convulsion should be reported to the hospital for appropriate action to be taken.

The World Federation of Neurology launched the first World Brain Day on 22nd July 2014. The day is dedicated to sensitise the world on the importance of brain health and the prevention of brain diseases.