Treatment of epilepsy - is expensive. However, the savings on medications negates all efforts of doctors.
Epilepsy has long been surrounded by mystery, fear and prejudice. Meanwhile, in recent years the attitude to it changed in the civilized countries. And last but not least because it learned to treat the disease. However, this case is very expensive. Attempts to reduce the cost of treating the transition to generics leads to loss of remission and the emergence of drug-resistant forms of the disease.
In ancient times epilepsy was called "sacred disease" that accrue to the gods. On the one hand, its appearance frightened, but on the other - people suffering from this disease, often possess extraordinary abilities. In the modern sense of epilepsy - a heterogeneous group of diseases, the clinic which is characterized by recurrent seizures (fits). They arise as a result of simultaneous excitation of neurons in a separate area of the cerebral cortex - epileptic focus. Sometimes seizures preceded by an aura, which manifests itself in the form of unexplained nausea, audio or visual disorders - depending on the localization of the epileptic focus. Seizures occur in the form of short-term involuntary spasms in any part of the body (partial seizures) or throughout the body (generalized seizures). Generalized seizures are often accompanied by loss of consciousness.
Seizures may occur as less than once a year, and up to several times a day in case of severe disease. Often it is impossible to find out the causes, and then speak of idiopathic epilepsy. An international team of scientists led by experts from the University of Melbourne found that in 12% of idiopathic epilepsy is caused by a mutation of the gene DEPDC5 (the protein encoded by this gene is involved in the transmission of signals within neurons).
Secondary, or symptomatic epilepsy may have the following causes: brain damage in the prenatal or perinatal period (hypoxia or birth trauma), head injury, and stroke, which caused brain hypoxia, infection of the brain, such as meningitis and encephalitis, parasitic diseases, brain tumor. There is also a so-called cryptogenic epilepsy. This diagnosis is made when the cause of generalized symptomatic epilepsy can not be accurately determined from the results of research.
Provoke epipripadok are the factors influencing the activity of the brain: the hormonal changes (such as menstruation), flashing lights, or flashing images (while riding on the train, in the car), intoxication (alcohol, some medications, toxic substances). There are also equivalents of epileptic seizures in the form of a sudden coming of mood disorders, disorders of consciousness, and in severe cases of the disease - specific changes in personality and intellect.
According to the European Commission for epilepsy, the disease affects about 50 million people, or up to 1% of the world population.
Few people know that 70% of children and adults who first diagnosed with epilepsy can be successfully treated (ie full control seizures) with anti-epileptic drugs. Two years later - five years of successful treatment, about 70% of children and 60% of adults can stop taking the medication without the risk of relapse. After that, if the patient complies with the basic rules of the regime: sleeping for 7-8 hours, completely refuses alcohol - attacks usually do not come back.