Epilepsy common among 16-31 age group
Epilepsy, a common chronic neurological disorder characterised by seizures, is prevalent among people of all ages but common ages in Bangladesh are between 16 to 31 years, according to physicians.
They said patients with epilepsy should consult medical practitioners to cope with the disease and for rehabilitation.
“Epilepsy patients should remain careful by not going out or sleeping alone as epileptic seizure may occur anytime,” said a doctor of Jahurul Islam Medical College and Hospital in Bajitpur, Kishoreganj.
Tamena Begum, aged about 30, daughter of farmer Hafiz Uddin of Dubipather village in Halimpur union of Kishoregonj district, had epilepsy since childhood.
Her guardians did not marry her off thinking she would be unable to lead a normal family life because she often misbehaved with people during the seizures.
Tamena often had the seizures while doing household work, resulting in injuries ranging from falling in drains near the tube-well to burning her hands in the earthen stove.
She finally went missing after she left home after a quarrel with her parents and was never found again.
Prof Dr MA Mannan, president of Neurology Foundation Hospital in Dhaka, in a write-up said studies in developed countries show prevalence rate of about five persons per 1,000, whereas in developing countries it is higher. Men are more often affected than females while the rural population more than the urban.
Based on a prevalence rate of 10 persons per 1,000, he mentioned that the numbers in Bangladesh is about 1.3 million.
He said, “Birth trauma, birth asphyxia and central nervous system infections are common in neonate and infancy whereas head trauma, brain tumor, stroke and infections are common causes among the middle aged and elderly.”
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