Epilepsy: Myths & Truths
People With Epilepsy Bear a Stigma Rooted in Misunderstanding
Despite 1-2 percent of the population having epilepsy, it remains a mysterious disorder shrouded in myths and misunderstandings for most people.
For hundreds of years, myths and misunderstandings about epilepsy have plagued those who suffer with seizures, almost as much as the disorder itself. Until the last century, people with epilepsy were often institutionalized with mental patients, feared by the masses for their strange outbursts, and even stoned to death.
Even today, many myths prevail in the public consciousness, despite the efforts of organizations like The Epilepsy Foundation, CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy), Epilepsy Action Australia and others that try to shed light on a disorder that effects approximately 1 in 120 people.
Myth #1. Epilepsy is contagious.
Epilepsy is not a communicable disease nor a mental illness -- it’s a neurological disorder with no known cure. No one can “catch” epilepsy from someone else, like a cold or flu.
Myth #2. Epilepsy is rare.
Epilepsy is more prevalent than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease and muscular dystrophy combined, according to the CURE website. More than 3 million Americas suffer with epilepsy, with another 500 new cases diagnosed daily. Worldwide, an estimated 50 million people have epilepsy.
Myth #3. A person having a seizure will swallow their tongue.
This is a dangerous myth, because well-intentioned people will try to force objects down the throat of a person having a seizure, chipping teeth, tearing gums, and causing injury around the mouth. In rare instances, the air passageway can become blocked. So the best action to take – roll the head to the side. The tongue will fall to the side inside the mouth, allowing a free flow of air.
Myth #4. When someone has a seizure, you should try to restrain them.
Absolutely not. First, protect the head from hitting a hard surface by putting something soft underneath the back of the head, like a pillow or an arm. Then roll the head to the side to open up the air passage. Finally, let the seizure take its course.
Myth #5. Today's medications have solved epilepsy.
Far from it. It is estimated that 15-20 percent of people in the U.S. cannot control their seizures. Worldwide, the percentage is much more serious, since 80 percent of people with seizures cannot get the proper medical treatment, according to CURE. Some organizations like Epilepsy Action Australia estimate the uncontrolled seizure population to be much higher -- as much as 30 percent. But even those who control seizures with medication may live with debilitating or troublesome side effects -- and, in the case of children, developmental problems.
Myth #6. People do not die from epilepsy.
The mortality rate for people with epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population -- it is a very serious disorder. According to CURE, 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.
Myth #7. People with epilepsy have violent tendencies.
Literature and contemporary movies have done a tremendous disservice to epilepsy, often associating the disorder with abnormalities such as violence and devil possession. In recent times, Michael Crighton’s The Terminal Man portrayed epilepsy as the cause of violence, as did Richard Pollack’s detective novel The Episode. The New Testament, Crime and Punishment and the movie The Exorcist, among many examples, all perpetuate stereotypes that have no basis in reality. Truth is, people with epilepsy have no more violent tendencies than the general population.
Myth #8. Only children have epilepsy
Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, head injury, or other events. Although it is more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, epilepsy is not confined to any group, age or race, according to The Epilepsy Foundation and CURE statistics.
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Copyright 2007 Steve Vogel. All rights reserved.
