Don't stigmatise epilepsy

PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged not to “stigmatise” the illness as National Epilepsy Awareness Week is celebrated.
Paediatric epilepsy nurse specialist Claire Pearson said Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was backing the national campaign.
She said: “It is important to raise awareness and understanding of epilepsy. People tend to shy away from talking about it, but it is important for everyone to understand how the condition affects not just the individual, but also their family.”
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is the third most common neurological condition behind stroke and Alzheimer’s, and figures show one in every 131 people in the UK has epilepsy.
Warrington and Halton’s paediatric epilepsy nurse specialist team currently look after 300 children across the two areas. Epilepsy is more common in children and people over 65, although it can happen at any age.
It can cause a variety of symptoms such as strange sensations, changes in behaviour or emotions, muscle spasms, convulsions, and a sudden loss of awareness or consciousness.
Claire said: “It can be very frightening to see a child having what appears to be a seizure. However, it is important to keep calm so you can describe exactly what has happened to the doctor. Epilepsy is often difficult to diagnose, and it is not always clear whether a child has had a seizure.
“Children, like adults, can have either generalised or partial seizures. Other conditions can sometimes be mistaken for epilepsy and it’s important for the doctor to exclude these. They include febrile convulsions and breath-holding attacks. If your child collapses for any reason at all contact your doctor.”