2017-11-17 Fri

National Epilepsy Day is celebrated across India on November 17thin order to make people aware of Epilepsy. People from different regions and backgrounds come together to observe the day. It is a joint platform where people discuss and highlight the issues faced by the people with epilepsy.

Epilepsy, one of the more common of neurological diseases, is as old as mankind itself. In developing countries, it is believed to occur in one out of every hundred of the general population. It can occur in all age groups and affect both sexes. The disease is universal and needs utmost care if someone suffers from it.

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain characterized by recurrent ‘seizures’ or ‘fits’. It is not a mental illness but is due to episodic, uncontrolled electrical discharges from the brain. However, the cause of Epilepsy cannot be determined in most of the cases; aspects that can be identified are the strokes, brain trauma, strokes, brain cancer, and excessive consumption or misuse of alcohol or drug by the person.

Epilepsy is mostly treatable with medications. The critical thing about epilepsy is that one should not delay its treatment and start the treatment as soon as it is diagnosed. This prevents further deterioration of the patient’s condition.

Different research centres and organizations are involved in finding and searching for a cure for Epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation, India has taken several initiatives and steps for making people aware of Epilepsy, its symptoms, causes and effects. Epilepsy Foundation celebrates National Epilepsy Day by organizing Free Epilepsy Detection and Treatment Camps in association with National Health Mission, Government of Maharashtra. The camps are also organized at various other states in India.

India post has issued 650 Paisa commemorative postage stampson the International Epilepsy Congress and World Congress on Neurology in 1989.