Author : Rehmat Karim
From :Gilgit Baltistan
Occupation : Neurophysiologist
Email:r_karimhunzai@hotmail.com

The word epilepsy is commonly known as “ Meergi” in local languages and as well as in urdu. The brain is complex machine consists of millions of nerve cells, or neurones, and their supporting structure. Each neurone maintains itself in an electrically charged state. It receives electrical signals from other neurones, and passes them on to others. What actually happens is that a tiny quantity of a special neurotransmitter substance is released from the terminals of one neurone. This chemical excites an electrical response in the nuerone next in the chain, and so the signal moves onward.
All the functions of the brain, including feeling, seeing, thinking and moving muscles depend on electrical signals being passed from one neurone to the next, the message being modified as required. The normal brain is constantly generating electrical rhythms in an orderly way.
In epilepsy this order is disrupted by some neurone discharging signals inappropriately. There may be a kind of brief electrical “storm” arising from nuerones that are inherently unstable because of a genetic defect (as in the various types of inherited epilepsy), or from neurones made unstable by metabolic abnormalities such as low blood glucose, or alcohol. Alternatively, the abnormal discharge may come from a localised area of the brain (this is the situation in patients with epilepsy caused by head injury, or brain tumour).
Varieties of Epilepsy
There are several forms of epilepsy. Most people will have seen someone suffer a major epileptic seizure, suddenly losing consciousness, jerking the arms and legs, etc. But there are other types of epilepsy – for example, one common form of epilepsy in children merely consists of staring blankly and losing contact with the surroundings for a few seconds. Which is called absence epilepsy and this type of spells may be child experienced 10 times a day, parents, school teachers are the most important members to identify it. Such type of children mostly poor school performers with weak memory issues.
Epilepsy & our society
Lack of education and poor health structure we make epilepsy one of the complex diseases, although its complex but its treatable, there are different kind of medications and therapies but it’s very important for epileptic patient to consult with some professional practitioner.
How to react if someone has seizure
During seizures mostly patients has random body movements.
Try to keep patient safe from injuries like sharp objects from surrounding.
Loos the body cloths.
Do not put any sharp object to the mouth of patient.
Just push him to lateral (side) position.
Do not put any medication or water in the mouth of patient during seizures.
Usually patients are responding around 3 to 5 minutes but if patient did not respond and he has next attack of seizure so rush him to the nearest hospital or emergency centers.
Sometime after seizures patient experienced of vomiting, loose of stool or urine.
Unfortunately some people are still belief to treat epilepsy “ murgee” as traditional way “ Taveez, dam dua”.
Please if your some dear one has epilepsy must consult with professional practitioner.

Rehmat Karim
Neurophysiologist American center for Psychitry & Neurology
Abu Dhabi UAE
r_karimhunzai@hotmail.com