Karachi,(Parliament Times): Noted neuro physician of the country and President Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan Dr Fowzia Siddiqui has said that the disease of epilepsy is a serious health issue, as about 70 percent patients of this disease are not getting proper medical treatment due to different reasons, adding only 35 percent patients in urban areas and 8 percent patients in rural areas are being treated.
Addressing at a free epilepsy clinic at Bahadurabad, here on Monday on the occasion of the Intl. Epilepsy Day,
She said there are 65 million epilepsy patients in the world and 2.4 million patients in Pakistan alone. She told that this disease is more common in children than adults. It is more prevalent in rural areas. About 5000 deaths are reported every year due to this disease.
Dr Fowzia said that sadly about 50 percent of patients who take medicines are not properly treated. She said; however, epilepsy is a treatable disease and its 70 percent patients could be treated with only one anti-epileptic medicine. She said that the burden of epilepsy is high in Pakistan. She said that epilepsy care is suboptimal, as awareness amongst both doctors and patients is low. She said treating this neurological disorder needs a multidisciplinary discipline. She said cost and availability of medicines play a vital role in treatment of epilepsy. She said there are more than 25 medicines to treat this ailment. She said there are first line and new generation medicines. She said the cost of treatment ranges from Rs50 to Rs10000 per month. She said surgical instruments to treat this disease are available at only one center. She said in government hospitals new AED is not available. She said treatment gap in this ailment should be avoided as it may make thing worse.
Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that there is a huge role of government to check this disease. She suggested that media campaigns should be run to raise awareness. There should be availability of AEDs at district and civil hospitals. These hospitals should have neurologists and diagnostic facilities. She said that LHVs should be given training about this disease and there should be training and support facilities available in these hospitals.
She said an epileptic can do everything: education, marriage, job, play, raise a family, do politics and social work.
Talking about epilepsy in children, she said that there are less than 10 percent pediatric neurologists in Pakistan. She said that about 90 percent cases of epilepsy in children are seen by GPs or pediatrics. She said that awareness amongst this group is low regarding medications, dosage and side effects.
Talking about the causes of this disease, she said that 70 percent cases are idiopathic, while 30 percent cases are due to traumatic brain injury, infections, strokes, tumors, etc. She said five percent cases are due to genetic effect.
Dr Fowzia said that there are many myths about this disease. Some people think it is not a disease but instead a Jinn or Asseb or Junoon. Other people think it is psychiatric disease. Some people think it is not treatable. They think these patients cannot do anything: education, marriage, job, etc. Some people think it is a shameful ailment and it must be kept hidden.
Talking about epilepsy in women, she said that 90 percent of women patients remain untreated for various reasons like stigma and taboo. She said that there are many concerns about pregnancy, birth defects and breast feeding. However, she said that this disease is not communicable.
Dr Fowzia suggested to hold public awareness campaigns about this disease like TV programs. She said patients support groups should be formed. She said that the World Epilepsy Day is being celebrated every year. She said this disease needs a multidisciplinary care in which patients, their attendants, doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and media should have a role, with the target of : awareness, advocacy, and availability of medicines at DHQ hospitals.
She said that it should be remembered that the main problem in dealing with disease is lack of awareness amongst public and physicians, misperceptions, unavailability of drugs especially in rural areas, issue of affordability in low income patients, and lack on neurologists as there is only one neurologist available for 10000 epilepsy patients.
During the free clinic, Dr Fowzia examined epilepsy patients. They were provided awareness material and in needy cases their medical tests were arranged on discounted rates.