Prevention and Treatment

Prevention: The old adage states that prevention is better than cure.

  1. Take your medication faithfully and do not stop taking them unless the doctor advises you to.
  2. Avoid taking drugs which are not prescribed by the doctor or illegal drugs. If you are having challenges with substance abuse inform your doctor.
  3. Avoid taking alcohol.
  4. Get enough sleep.
  5. Manage your stress.
  6. Exercise faithfully.
  7. Take time to relax.
  8. Have a consistent meal schedule especially for person/s with diabetes.
  9. Avoid flashing lights especially if you have photosensitive epilepsy.
  10. Protect yourself from head injuries for example wearing a helmet while driving a motorbike or bicycle.
  11. If you have young children ensure that the fevers are managed.

Treatment

  1. It is very important to visit a medical practioner when one gets more than one seizure. It is highly advised that one visits a neurologist (This is a medical specialist who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases in the brain, spinal cord and nerves). In Kenya, there are neurologists whom you can go to and you can find them by going online and typing neurologists in Kenya. In addition, there are organizations like KAWE (Kenya Association for the Welfare of People with Epilepsy). They offer affordable services and have clinics on specific days. You can access their information on their website https://kawe-kenya.org/
  2. Taking Anti Epileptic Drugs (AEDs).
  3. Surgery but only at the advise of the neurologist.
  4. Putting a small electrical device inside the body to reduce seizures but only at the advise of the neurologist.
  5. Having a special diet also called ketogenic diet to help control seizures.