Worldwide, epilepsies affect 50 million people and in France, nearly 700,000 people are confronted with these diseases. Since 2015, the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy have organized International Epilepsy Day every second Monday in February. Explanations.
international epilepsy day
It would be more accurate to say epilepsies rather than epilepsy, as this pathology is complex and variable. For most people, epilepsy comes down to the frightening generalized seizures. But epilepsy can be much more subtle or sneaky, revealing itself only by a few involuntary, almost imperceptible tremors of those around you.
Years pass and prejudices and received ideas remain tenacious. The purpose of International Epilepsy Day was to raise awarness and the actors concerned regarding this disease. But 8 years following the first edition, there is still a long way to go to make epilepsy known, combat stigma and provide information on what to do in the event of an epileptic seizure. In 2022, the second Monday in February was February 14 and the theme of the day was naturally chosen: “love and epilepsy”.
“Epilepsy is not what you think. Let’s challenge prejudice »
This year, International Epilepsy Day will take place on February 13, 2023 and will have the theme: “Epilepsy is not what you think it is. Let’s shake up prejudices”. The message is clear, we must manage to move the lines and raise public awareness of what epilepsy is. Epilepsy is a frequent chronic neurological pathologywhich can develop at all stages of life, from infant to adulthood.
Epilepsy includes different epileptic diseases of varying severity, depending on several parameters: the age of onset of the first seizures, the cause of the seizures, the nature and frequency of the seizures and the response to antiepileptic treatments. The causes of epilepsy are variable and sometimes no abnormality is found to explain the onset of seizures.
The symptoms of epileptic seizures are very diverse in nature and severity, from simple muscle twitches to generalized epileptic seizures with loss of consciousness. Every Frenchman must know what to do when faced with a person who is convulsing :
- Lay the person in the lateral safety position
- Make space around the person
- Protect your head by placing it on a soft object
- Take off your glasses
- Loosen clothing at the collar and waistband
- Do not try to move the person except in case of danger
- Do not prevent seizures
- Do not put anything in the patient’s mouth
- Don’t give him a drink
- Contact the emergency services while monitoring the person, if the crisis lasts or if the person remains unconscious.
Raise public awareness and fight once morest prejudices regarding epilepsy
Even in 2023, epilepsy remains taboo, ignored, misunderstood. Talking regarding the disease, its causes, its symptoms, combating received ideas, … all these actions help to better detect, identify, diagnose, treat, take care of and support all those who live with epilepsy on a daily basis. They also make it possible to fight once morest the rejection and stigmatization too often experienced by patients and their relatives.
International Epilepsy Day takes place in more than 140 countries around the world, with events and information campaigns relayed in the media. This day is also an opportunity to encourage patients and their families in their daily fight once morest the disease, but also once morest prejudice. In France, it is Epilepsie France, the national association of patients with epilepsy, which organizes this great day.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
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