International Epilepsy Day 2022

Context

International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the second Monday of February across the world.

What is Epilepsy?

• Epilepsy is derived from the Greek word which means 'to be seized, to be overwhelmed by surprise'. 
• Suffering from epilepsy means having a tendency to have recurring seizures. 
  • It is said that if the brain is exposed to a strong enough stimulus then anyone can have a seizure.
    • It is not necessarily a lifelong diagnosis. 
  • Doctors may consider that a person has no longer epilepsy if he or she goes without seizures for a long enough time.

Cause of Epilepsy

• There are various types of epilepsy. Some types of it start at a young age and some in later life. 
  • Some types last for a short period of time and some for the whole life. 
• It could be due to brain damage occurring by a difficult birth, a severe blow to the head, or due to an infection of the brain like meningitis. 
  • Occasionally it is caused by a brain tumour. It is said that in around six of ten people, doctors don't know the reason for their epilepsy. 

What are the treatments for Epilepsy?

• Epilepsy medicines like anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are referred. 
  • Medicine for epilepsy acts on the brain and tries to reduce seizures from happening. 
• Other treatments when epilepsy medicines do not work are brain surgery, vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet, deep brain stimulation, and trigeminal nerve stimulation.

Background

• The day was organised by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). 
• It started in
• The purpose behind observing the day is to provide a platform for people with epilepsy to share their experiences and stories with audiences across the world.
  • It is also a call for all people to advocate for appropriate legislation that will guarantee human rights to people with epilepsy. 
• The day also encourages people with epilepsy to live to their fullest potential. 
• It is one of the world's oldest known medical conditions, associated with public fear and misunderstanding about epilepsy, making various people reluctant to talk about it. 
  • This reluctance may lead to lives lived in shadows, a lack of understanding about individual risk, discrimination in workplaces, and communities, and also a lack of funding for new therapies research.

Theme

• The theme of International Epilepsy Day this year is '50 Million Steps For Epilepsy'. 
• As many as 50 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy. 
• The idea behind the campaign is to raise awareness of this and to raise vital funds for epilepsy organisations across the world. 
• The theme of International Epilepsy Day 2021 is “Epilepsy is more than seizures”