Page 9 - Epilepsy_Active

WHAT IS EPILEPSY? Interview

Brief news Epilepsy is a chronic brain should be calm, search for a soft
item (e.g.: A pillow) to place un-
illness that presents itself with
On the 28 November 2018, Judy Kariuki, a medical professional seizures but in many different der his/her head, loosen their
th
was interviewed under the topic, “What is epilepsy” at the Kenya ways. Epilepsy is identified from tight clothing around the neck
Association for the Welfare of people with Epilepsy (KAWE) hospi- the repeated seizures. There and finally wait until this pa-

tal branch of Karen. happen to be different types of tient’s body stops jerking so as to

Judy Kariuki is a clinician specialized in epileptology. She is ad- seizures, hence different types of roll them on the side in order for

mired to be very passionate in her working conditions; esteemed epilepsy. In lay man’s language, the saliva to flow out.
to help the epilepsy patients to live a normal life and get cured. She a seizure is the manifestation of

also is grateful in communicating to the public, informing them what is happening in the brain. Even though epilepsy should

significant information concerning epilepsy. During the interview, During a seizure, there are not be feared, sadly, it can lead
she explained details concerning epilepsy with no fragments and to death. If the person suffer-

inconsistence. uncoordinated transfer of
messages in the brain. There is ing a seizure is left laying on
“Different seizures, different epilepsy.” Judy Kariuki.
no way epilepsy can be their back, breathing may be-

transferred from one person to come very difficult once the

the next for it is not contagious. tongue rolls back towards the

throat. Death can also occur if

To be able to assist a person one is struck by seizure at night;

having a seizure attack depends hence, nobody is available to

on the type of seizure the person help. During a seizure, one’s

is undergoing at that particular heartbeat might drastically ac-

moment. The easiest way one is celerate or decelerate leading to

to identify anyone having a death. Another is if one falls sub

seizure attack is if the person sequentially to an inappropri-

falls, showing loss of ate position (e.g.: Neck breaks,

consciousness, jerking their gets chocked or loss of too much

whole body and most likely blood) or lands in an unsuitable

“Not all with seizures have epilepsy…” Judy Kariuki. Photographer: Ngware Mburu extremely salivating. At first, you terrain (e.g.: Fall in water hence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWQZRviMt58