Myths and dreams: The realities of epilepsy in rural South Africa

Posted: Published on September 10th, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

When Lusanda Ngwenya, 13, comes to he is disorientated. He looks around at the faces of concerned family members and then becomes aware of a new pain somewhere on his body maybe a knocked limb or a bitten tongue. He has just woken up from one of the seizures that accompany his epilepsy.

A leading cause of acquired epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa is attributable to tape worms found in pork, according to the World Health Organisation.

I usually dont know when the seizures will start or end they just happen unexpectedly, he tells OurHealth. Ill wake up not knowing what happened until my family or friends tell me.

Sometimes I wake up with an injury, says the teenager, who adds that when seizures strike at school, his school will call his mother or his friends will help take him.

Lusanda was diagnosed with epilepsy four years ago. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can cause for instance seizures, abnormal sensations and loss of consciousness.

According to Epilepsy South Africa, about one in every 100 people have epilepsy. In about 80 percent of patients, epilepsy medication will control their symptoms.

According to the US non-profit Mayo Clinic, epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half of all patients. In the other 50 percent of patients, it may be traced to various factors including genetics, as well as head or prenatal trauma.

A leading cause of acquired epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa is attributable to tape worms found in pork, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Once infected meat is eaten, tapeworm eggs grow into adult worms that continue laying eggs, which can travel through a persons body. When these eggs travel to the brain, they can cause epilepsy however epilepsy itself is not contagious. The WHO has advised people to cook pork thoroughly to avoid tapeworms.

Misconceptions abound

I dont have many friendssome kids doesnt even want to play with me because they believe can (catch) epilepsy

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Myths and dreams: The realities of epilepsy in rural South Africa

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