Residents of Kiambu and around the country are being advised to take measures on managing patients suffering from epilepsy since it will prevent them from getting discriminated and also curb the risk of death.
The Kiambu level 4 hospital superintendent Dr. Grace Ochieng said that most people are usually discriminated upon once people realise that they are suffering from this disorder while those living near them neglect them instead of helping them manage it.
She stated that there are several ways of managing a patient with this problem that are easy to grasp. Some of these measures includes ensuring that a person does not lay on the floor when he or she gets a seizure since the cold floor affects them much more. Dr. Ochieng further explained that once a person falls, the people around him or her should place a soft item beneath the patients head as this will ensure that blood flows swiftly around the body.
“The popular myth is that when an epileptic person gets a seizure, a spoon should be placed in their mouth to avoid the risk of them biting their tongue. This is wrong because when a person falls, nothing should be placed in their mouth,” she noted.
The doctor observed that people living with patients suffering from epilepsy should ensure that the home area doesn't have any sharp objects around that may cause injuries once he or she has a seizure.
She also explained that when a patients falls, the person around him or her should record the time the seizure has occurred. If it is more that 5 minutes, the person (lady) is either pregnant or if not, he or she has had an injury hence an emergency call should be made immediately.
Dr. Ochieng further said that children especially should be provided with helmet which helps in protecting their heads from injuries.
She added that patients with epilepsy are often given medication but if it does not work, a special diet is prescribed by the doctor that has high fat and low curbs; this diet helps in burning the fat instead of the sugar thus helping in reduction of the seizures and if followed seriously, it can reduce the problem completely.
She explained that patients with this disease should ensure they avoid alcohol or any drug, get enough sleep, avoid getting emotionally stressed and ensure the get all meals every day.