By Vishani Ragobeer
Just a few years ago, young Delon Augustin had a seizure. It was a frightening experience both for the boy and his mother, Michelle Adams.
“I feel like I fell down too because I didn’t know what to do,” Michelle told the News Room in an interview on Monday.
She quickly recovered from the initial shock and fright and realised that Delon had to be taken to the hospital. Not long after, Adams was told that her son was grappling with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes individuals to grapple with recurring, unprovoked seizures. There are many types of epilepsy, but it is a disorder that is too often misunderstood, according to local neurologist Dr. Alex Persaud.
“The main component of epilepsy is the seizures… It’s a disorder in which the brain would have abnormal electrical discharges that would spread to different areas of the brain.
“As it spread to different areas, you would have different manifestations
“So epilepsy is a disorder of the brain where you would have a high predisposition to have recurrent seizures,” the neurologist explained.
The misunderstanding comes when some dismiss the uncontrollable movements associated with a seizure as simply “ketching fits.” Dr. Persaud also said there are many who believe that individuals experiencing seizures are affected by some supernatural force.
On Monday, the neurologist joined with his colleagues from the neurology department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana’s main referral hospital, and some of their patients, to raise awareness of the disorder, hoping to dispel some of the misconceptions associated with epilepsy.
The awareness activity was organised in commemoration of World Epilepsy Day, which is observed on the second Monday of February annually.
Dr. Persaud said the aim of the event is to raise awareness of epilepsy and the treatment needed. The doctors want affected individuals to know that treatment is available.
Delon, for example, has been able to get medical support at the Georgetown hospital. He travels from Bartica, Region Seven, every few months with his mother to engage the doctors at the facility.
Additionally, the neurologist said people should know how to engage someone who is experiencing a seizure. While a seizure is occurring, persons are advised not to place restraints on the person and not to put anything into the person’s mouth. Instead, put them into a safety position and cushion their head, remove all harmful objects from within their reach, and stay with them.
But that’s not all.
The doctors have a goal of adding newer antiseizure medications to the national formulary and updating treatment guidelines. They also want to conduct world-class medical investigations here in Guyana, a feat they believe can be achieved with the procurement of an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine that shows changes in brain activity.
They also hope that one day, the specialised services can be decentralised across Guyana.
Michelle and Delon travel to and from Bartica to get the treatment Dr. Persaud is encouraging more people to seek treatment. It is an arduous journey but a necessary one to ensure Delon’s seizures are managed well.
Dr. Persaud and his colleagues hope more people will get this support too.
