International Epilepsy Day

Every year the second Monday of February is observed as International Epilepsy Day (IED), and this year it was celebrated on 14th February (2022).

• The day spreads awareness and educates people about the true facts of epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.
• The day is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). It started in 2015.

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.

Essentially, epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical discharge in the brain. It is a medical disorder and can be managed with proper treatment.

Some seizures/epilepsies can be prevented by being aware of the risk factors.

• For example, unsafe childbirth without adequate medical support can lead to brain damage and epilepsy in the newborn.
• Consumption of unhygienic food can lead to neurocysticercosis in the brain, one of the common causes of seizures in our setting.
• Driving rash or without helmets can lead to accidents and brain injury, another common cause of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the world’s oldest recognized conditions, with written records dating back to 4000 BCE.

Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.

• In India, nearly 60 lakh people have epilepsy.