LAHORE - Like other parts of the globe, International Epilepsy Day was observed across the country including Lahore on Monday with the purpose to raise public awareness and highlight the need of increased research to overcome the menace.
Seminars, walks and workshops were arranged at the government and private level to raise awareness about epilepsy that was causing isolation of patients, majority of them below 30 years of age, from the society.
According to an estimate, over two million people are suffering from epilepsy in Pakistan which is treatable. Overall prevalence of epilepsy is estimated to be one per cent in the world population, but nears the two per cent mark in Pakistan. Epilepsy is a debilitating neurological disease that can consist of simple staring spells to severe jerking and stiffening of the body with sudden loss of consciousness. Epilepsy carries a horrendous stigma, young women can’t get married, and children are withdrawn from school, resulting in social isolation and depression. This is treatable with complete control in 70 per cent of the patients.