Over the years, we’ve heard different myths about Epilepsy in Children that we do not know if it’s true or not. Here are 10 myths that has been debunked with concrete facts.
Myth 1: The child will swallow his/her tongue during a seizure
Fact: Actually, it’s impossible to swallow the tongue during seizure
Myth 2: If a child is having seizure, you should put something into his/her mouth to prevent him/her from choking
Fact: Never put anything in a child’s mouth during seizure, this could end up hurting the child more. Instead, gently roll the child onto one side and put something soft under his/her head and wait until him/her gain consciousness
Myth 3: You should restrain the child during a seizure attack
Fact: Never hold down the child during a seizure as it can cause a bone or muscular injury. Instead, make sure the surrounding area is clear of objects and his/ her head is padded with something soft
Myth 4: Epilepsy is contagious
Fact: Epilepsy can't be transferred from another person
Myth 5: During a seizure, the child is in pain
Fact: The child is unconscious during a seizure and doesn’t experience any pain. However, some may have muscle aches and can be tired after a prolonged seizure
Myth 6: Children with epilepsy are mentally ill or intellectually disabled
Fact: Epilepsy, Mental illness, Intellectual disabilities are all conditions that affect the brain. However, if a child has epilepsy, it doesn’t mean that it’s an intellectual disability or a mental illness. A child’s ability to learn can be affected by the frequency and power of the seizure activity. Overall, a child with epilepsy tends to have the same degree of intelligence as a non-epileptic child
Myth 7: All seizures involve convulsions
Fact: Seizures can be present in different ways. Some cause a child to faint and have convulsions( when their body stiffens and then jerks uncontrollably). Other seizures can cause brief spells of blinking rapidly and staring off or simply cause the person to experience strange sensations ( like tingling) or display off behaviours ( like repeated lip smacking or hand wringing)
Myth 8: Videogames or strobe lights will trigger seizures
Fact: It is estimated that only 3% of people with epilepsy usually have visual triggers. Videogames with rapid flashing lights or alternating colour patterns can sometimes trigger seizures but this is very rare
Myth 9: Epilepsy treatments don’t work
Fact: Two- thirds of persons with epilepsy can completely control their seizures with the right kind of medication with the right kind of medication with the right dose. For the other one- third, there are other treatments that sometime can be added to the medication to improve the treatment and may include brain surgery, nerve stimulation with an ingrained electrical device or a special diet
Myth 10: A child can’t die from epilepsy
Fact: Epilepsy is a very serious condition and individuals can die from seizures.It is estimated that prolonged seizures are the cause of 22,000 to 42,000 deaths in the U.S each year
Dr. Favvy
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