All about epilepsy

Even today, the subject of epilepsy is one we tread around uncomfortably. For too many years, epilepsy evoked grotesque images of a person losing consciousness, seemingly unaware of what’s going on. His or her body is thrashing and jerking around, convulsing in uncontrollable seizures, while foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. Although this more likely represents the made-for-TV-movie version, it isn’t too far away from what can happen, and frightening to witnesses, nevertheless.

Before going any further, it is important to distinguish epilepsy from the more general term, seizure disorder, and be aware they are not the same thing. While epilepsy, a condition of the nervous system, is considered a seizure disorder, not all seizure disorders are a result of epilepsy.

[...] Since Lia despised swallowing pills, many drugs were in liquid form, and all looked alike. The medications that only came in pill form had to be crushed and mixed in food, but Lia was stubborn and usually spit them out (Fadiman 45). In this very sad situation, the parents could neither read nor understand the many prescriptions labels. They couldn’t read or write instructions or even the markings on measuring spoons or medicine droppers. MCMC had no interpreters on staff and at times no Hmong-speaking employees of any capacity were present in the hospital (Fadiman 25). [...]

[...] As stated above, seizures are not always caused by epilepsy and in the right circumstances, can be triggered in almost anyone. A high fever in a young child often produces a febrile or nonepileptic seizure. However, when an individual experiences repeated seizures, with no identifiable cause, he or she is said to have epilepsy (Dowshen). Doctors classify epileptic seizures into two categories, either partial or generalized, depending on the extent and part of the brain affected. Partial seizures start in one part of the brain, and may or may not move to other parts. [...]