Dr. Pratima Singhi is a famed pediatric neurosurgeon with over 38 years of clinical experience. Currently, she is the Director of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics at Medanta, The Medicity, Gurugram. Dr. Pratima Singhi specializes in CNS infections, Childhood Epilepsy, Neurodevelopmental disorders, and Behavioural Pediatrics.
After completing her MBBS from JLN Medical College, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, she went on to earn her Fellowship in Pediatrics from the University of South California, Los Angeles, USA and finished her MD in Pediatrics from AIIMS, New Delhi. Before Medanta, Dr. Pratima Singhi worked as an Emeritus Consultant, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London in 2008, and later as the Chief at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Dr. Pratima Singhi has over 400 research journals to her name and has won several prestigious awards including the First PK Mishra Oration on "Cerebral Palsy and its management recent concepts" to mark the First Foundation Day Celebration of 53rd Foundation Day of King George Medical University, Lucknow, 2006, the Oration of the Association of Child Neurology for Lifetime Achievement in Pediatric and Neurology and Neurodevelopment, 2016, First S. Janaki Memorial Oration for outstanding contribution to Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology, 2013, to name a few.
As you all know, India is one of the most preferred medical tourism destinations and thousands of patients visit India to seek medical care. The major attraction point is affordable treatment from the best neurosurgeons in India. These neurosurgeons have decades of experience in providing high-quality care for the comfortable stay of the patients during their medical trips. This is the major reason why patients prefer India for medical treatments instead of other nations.
Childhood Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures and can affect both adults and children. One of the most common neurological disorders, epilepsy affects about 41 to 187 children out of every hundred thousand children in the world. Children in underdeveloped countries have a higher incidence of epilepsy than in developed countries.
Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with seizure symptoms ranging from mild to severe and differs from one child to another.
What is a seizure?
The nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other via electrical pulses. Any disruption of the normal connections between the nerve cells in the brain due to abnormal electrical activity causes seizures. Seizures can be caused by high fevers, irregular blood sugar levels, use of drugs, or injury to the brain. When seizures occur more than once without any known cause, it is diagnosed as epilepsy.
Seizures are broadly categorized as:
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Focal Seizures: These are partial seizures that occur when abnormal electrical activities occur on one side of the brain.
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Generalized Seizure: These seizures occur when abnormal electrical pulses occur on both sides of the brain.
Childhood Epilepsy Treatment
Treatment for epilepsy aims to control the seizures and depends on the type of seizure, age, ease of use, and expected side effects.
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Medication: Medicines are the most widely accepted and used treatment option for epilepsy and there are several drugs available to treat seizures. Medicines for epilepsy are administered orally and through injections or sprays.
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Ketogenic Diet: A high-fat diet is effective to reduce seizures in some children.
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Vagus Nerve Simulation: Small energy pulses are sent to the brain from the pair of large nerves in the neck known as vagus nerves. This treatment option is suitable for children
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older than 12 years
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have partial seizures
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lower efficacy of medications
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Surgery: It is a treatment option for seizures that are hard to control. Surgery for epileptic seizures removes the part of the brain where the abnormal pulses originate except when speech, vision, or other motor controls are involved.
Most childhood epilepsy cases resolve on their own and seizures stop when the child grows up. Ensure that a child diagnosed with epilepsy:
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Gets his or her medicines timely as prescribed by a doctor
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Has regular blood tests to ensure the efficacy of the drugs
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Avoids any environment or activity that may trigger seizures
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Gets proper diet and adequate sleep
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Visits the doctor regularly as recommended
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Is adequately supervised by adults who have been informed of the condition
5 Myths about Epilepsy
False ideas or myths surrounding epilepsy make its management a more challenging task.
Myth 1: Epilepsy is Contagious
Epilepsy is not a communicable disease and a child cannot catch epilepsy from another.
Myth 2: Epilepsy is a chronic condition with no effective treatment
Most children afflicted with epilepsy grow out of seizures once they reach adolescence. There are many medications and treatment options available to manage the seizures to a great extent.
Myth 3: Children suffering from epilepsy should not be allowed to play
Children suffering from seizures should be under the supervision and can have a normal childhood. They may have to avoid environments with flashing lights, etc that trigger their seizures.
Myth 4: Epilepsy is a mental illness
Epilepsy is not a mental illness. A child suffering a seizure may behave oddly and be mistaken for being of unsound mind.
Myth 5: Epilepsy is caused due to the “supernatural”
Epilepsy is a common and treatable neurological condition that affects millions of children worldwide.
Conclusion
Children who suffer from childhood epilepsy can lead normal healthy lives. However, the lack of awareness about epilepsy contributes to unscientific beliefs. The stigma associated with epilepsy, in general, creates a non-conducive environment for children.
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