Epilepsy is totally curable

The experts also said many people have no idea about the disease and believe that epilepsy has no treatment, so they take recourse to traditional healers.

The diagnosis of epilepsy is not difficult if proper history is taken from the patients and close observers, they told a training course for doctors on epilepsy at Brac Centre Inn in Mohakhali yesterday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Dhaka West Chapter of JCI Bangladesh, the Commission of Asian and Oceanian Affairs (CAOA), Epilepsy Association of Bangladesh (EAB) and Neurology Foundation, Dhaka, jointly organised the course.

Experts from Bangladesh, India, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia delivered lectures on various aspects of the disease.

"The patient often is embarrassed to admit the disease and as a consequence they are treated like outcasts and this has social repercussions. With proper treatment and medication a patient is able to lead a normal life," said Prof MA Mannan, President of Neurology Foundation, Dhaka.

He said epilepsy accounts for one percent of the world's burden of disease, the same as breast cancer in women or lung cancer in man. It is totally curable after three to four years of continuous treatment, Prof Mannan added.

Director of the Indian Epilepsy Centre Dr Satish Jain said 0.5 to 1 percent people are suffering from the disease in India and the scenario is believed to be the same in Bangladesh.

Prof. CT Tan of University of Malaya said people have to be well aware about the disease for better treatment.