Common myths about seizures

A SMALL consolation to draw from the death of John Travolta’s 16-year-old son, Jett, is that epilepsy got rare media mention.

A post mortem revealed Jett died from a seizure.

It is an illness that still carries some stigma in the public eye. So perhaps it is a good time to debunk some epilepsy myths.

ONE FIT EQUALS EPILEPSY:

No it doesn’t — but the terminology is confusing.

A fit and a seizure are the same thing — a brain “short circuit”. So what’s epilepsy? Repeated seizures.

Anyone can have one fit — around one in ten of us suffer a single seizure at some time.

But only about three per cent have repeated problems and so end up with the epilepsy label.

EPILEPSY ALWAYS CAUSES LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SHAKING:

That’s just one sort of fit — there are many other types.

In some, you remain awake but suffer, say, odd attacks where one arm or leg shakes. I
n others — petit mal, which usually affects children — the child may just go blank for a few seconds.
Then there are febrile convulsions — these are shaking fits which occasionally happen in feverish children below the age of five. Only a few of these go on to develop true epilepsy.

YOU NEED SPECIAL TESTS TO BE DIAGNOSED EPILEPTIC:

Wrong. Sure, when you see a specialist about your seizures, you’ll probably have some tests. But they’re not what clinch the diagnosis.

Some — such as a scan — check for any underlying problem in the brain.

Others, like an EEG — a brainwave test — give other useful clues. But the key piece of evidence is an eyewitness account of your seizure.

So anyone who saw what happened should tag along for your first appointment.

THERE’S ALWAYS A CAUSE FOR FITS: Not so. A single seizure might result from a head injury, fever, medication, too much booze, drug withdrawal and so on.

But in most, no cause is found — as is the case in repeated fits, too.

Some epileptics find certain things tend to trigger seizures, though — such as strobe lights, stress, excess alcohol or lack of sleep.

IF SOMEONE’S HAVING A FIT, YOU SHOULD STOP THEM BITING THEIR TONGUE:

This is one of the oldest myths in the book — and it’s wrong.

You just risk hurting yourself and the patient.

Simply put something soft under their head to prevent injury. And, when the fit’s over, roll them on to their side — into the “recovery position”.

FITS MEAN PILLS — FOREVER:

Not necessarily. Remember, this might have been a one-off seizure.

But if you’re having repeated fits, chances are you’ll be offered treatment to keep them at bay.
That doesn’t necessarily mean for life, though.

Over half of epileptics eventually stop their pills — though they should only do so with advice from their doctor.

IT’S OBVIOUS WHEN SOMEONE’S HAVING A FIT:

Not always — many things can mimic a seizure.

Especially faints. In fact, if you faint but are held upright — on the Tube, say, or in a football crowd — your body can shake, like a fit.

Heart problems, panic attacks and migraines can cause similar symptoms.