Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Advancing medical science holds promise for people suffering from epileptic feats with surgery to cure the disease on the anvil, experts said at a seminar held to mark the ‘National Epilepsy Day’ at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital here on Tuesday.
“Epilepsy is a common neurlogic problem plaguing mankind from time immemorial but its link with superstitions has made the situation worse,” Akash Das Nayak, film star and legislator, said while addressing the seminar.
The legislator pointed out that the superstitions were mostly prevalent in the rural areas where people continued to suffer though effective treatment for such ailments was available.
Vice-Chancellor of SOA University Prof (Dr) Amit Banerjee said lack of knowledge and awareness was the biggest hurdle in the fight against epilepsy.
“It’s not a curse as many think. It’s a disease that has to be treated,” he said.
Eminent neurologist Prof RN Sahu spoke as the chief guest at the programme.
The experts pointed out that unfortunately people chose to approach ‘tantriks’ and ‘babas’ for cure instead of seeking medical assistance though it cost them both time and money.
Epilepsy was a medical condition which was treatable with newer modalities of investigation like CT, MRI, EEG, video EEG, ambulatory EEG and a range of pharmacotherapy being available, NDr Soumyadarshan Nayak, neurologist at IMS and Sum Hospital said.
The purpose of the program was to make people aware that people with epilepsy can lead a normal life and succeed in life in various fields provided they received adequate treatment and care, he said adding women with epilepsy required extra care during pregnancy.
