DOHA: In Qatar about one percent of the population suffers from Epilepsy, a medical condition that affects the nervous system, causing the affected person to have recurring seizures according to the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
It affects about 20,000 people per two million and in Qatar, most cases of epilepsy have unknown causes or are due to a brain injury, usually due to a road traffic accident or a fall.
There are also cases of epilepsy linked to premature birth, complications during pregnancy and infections. Inherited epilepsy is very rare.
Also there are about 3,000 children with epilepsy who are being cared for by HMC’s Pediatric Neurology Service, which is the only centre in Qatar providing tertiary care for children with epilepsy. HMC held a series of events to raise awareness of epilepsy on the occasion of the first International Epilepsy Day.
International Epilepsy Day will now be observed annually on the second Monday of February as part of a joint initiative with the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
The main event was hosted by HMC’s Neurology Department at Hajar Auditorium, where patients, caregivers and group leaders shared their experiences and perspectives on epilepsy. Neurology experts also discussed the social aspects of epilepsy in the Middle East and some of the latest research findings in managing the condition.
Epilepsy can be controlled with the right medical treatment. “With proper medical care and certain precautions to reduce health risks, people with epilepsy should be able to live healthy, social and productive lives. Their condition should not prevent them from doing everyday activities such as travelling, working, and playing sports, of course with proper guidance and follow-up by from their doctors,” said Dr Hassan Al Hail, Senior Consultant Neurologist at HMC and President of the Qatar Chapter of the ILAE.
He warned against resorting to non-medical remedies, emphasizing that without timely, professional medical treatment, seizures can worsen leading to a coma or death.
Earlier this month, Hamad General Hospital’s (HGH) Paediatric Neurology Division held an awareness event for more than 200 school nurses, aimed at enhancing their skills in caring for schoolchildren with epilepsy or experiencing seizures.
The Peninsula
