MPS Celebrates Epilepsy Awareness Day
Thanks to MPS for the great photos and info about their day
Photo MPS
MANITOUWADGE, ON – Tuesday, March 26th Manitouwadge Public School’s primary division celebrated Epilepsy Awareness Day. To help get the discussion started and ensure everyone had epilepsy at top of mind, students and staff wore purple clothes and purple bracelets (the latter made by Grade 1 student Miah Wheadon), enjoyed a wonderful purple cake.
Though many may think Epilepsy is a rare disorder that doens’t affect many people the fact is that there are more than twice as many people with epilepsy in Canada as the number of people with cerebral palsy (55,000), muscular dystrophy (28,000), multiple sclerosis (39,000), and cystic fibrosis (3,400) combined, this is part of why it is so important for people to be well informed in regards to the disorder, treatments available, safety issues related to seizures and other related issues.
During Eplipesy Awareness Day at MPS, students learned about the warning signs of an epileptic attack, why the attacks happen and what they should or should not do if they witness someone having an epileptic seizure. Learning more about Epilepsy and having their questions answered helps students to overcome any miconceptions or fears they may have had in regards to this disease
MPS Students and staff wanted to offer a huge thank you to the Wheadon family for all their help in getting this organized.
FAST FACTS (from Epilepsy Canada)
- Epilepsy is a physical condition characterized by sudden, brief changes in how the brain works. It is a symptom of a neurological disorder – a disorder that affects the brain and shows itself in the form of seizures.
- Epilepsy is a disorder, not a disease; it is not contagious.
- Approximately 0.6% of the Canadian population has epilepsy. This includes those who take anticonvulsant drugs or who had a seizure within the past 5 years.
- Due to the stigma surrounding epilepsy and the prejudice with which society has historically treated people with epilepsy, many with the disorder are reluctant to admit it or to seek treatment. Thus the prevalence of epilepsy is likely much higher.
- Each day in Canada, an average of 42 people learn that they have epilepsy.
- Each year an average of 15,500 people learn they have epilepsy; 44% are diagnosed before the age of 5, 55% before the age of 10, 75-85% before age 18 and 1% of children will have recurrent seizures before age 14. 1.3% are over the age of 60. This means that about 60% of new patients are young children and senior citizens.
- In approximately 50% of cases of childhood epilepsy, seizures disappear completely.
- In 50 – 60% of cases, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.
- Many events may trigger seizures, including (the list is much longer these are just a few examples of triggers):
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Missed medication
- Flickering lights
- The major form of treatment is long-term drug therapy. Drugs are not a cure and can have numerous, sometimes severe, side effects.
- Brain surgery is recommended only when medication fails and when the seizures are confined to one area of the brain where brain tissue can be safely removed without damaging personality or function.
