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Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, will host Purple day for Epilepsy awareness at Al Ain Mall, 5-6 April, 2013. The event, organized by Tawam’s Pediatric Neurology Division, is dedicated to children, parents, and the community to raise awareness about epilepsy. The event will be a great opportunity for public to interact and learn about epilepsy in children.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by recurrent disturbance of electrical activity in the brain. In many cases, the main cause of epilepsy is unknown. Some known causes are central nervous system infection, head injury, brain tumors, congenital malformations, or toxic reaction to drugs. There is no cure for epilepsy, but the seizures can successfully be treated and controlled with antiepileptic medication.
Dr. Mohamed Al Malik Consultant and Chief of the Pediatric Neurology at Tawam Hospital said: "There are several signs that appear in patients with epilepsy such as: convulsions, loss of consciousness, and behavior changes. Epilepsy control is best achieved through medication compliance and regular physician follow-up care. Parents’ reassurance and education are important in particular when a seizure occurs to their children".
Dr. Al-Malik, added that most epileptic children can live a normal life and grow out of the disease. Others who will continue to have it and those with an underlying neurologic cause for their epilepsy can benefit with an improved quality of life when the epilepsy is controlled by medications and other measures.
People living with epilepsy can lead active lives to include participation in several sporting activities such as, walking, swimming (under supervision), football, and bike riding. Sports that should be avoided include climbing activities and those where excessive jumping is required for participation.
He added: "Tawam Hospital organizes a support group meeting every three months for parents, patients, and medical staff. This support group meeting provides an opportunity for parents to comfortably talk with each other, discuss their opinions, share emotional comfort, and treatment success stories. Support groups give parents a sense of empowerment and control as well as useful information to help them overcome difficulties without being isolated or discriminated. These groups also offer an awareness opportunity to discuss and learn about different treatment options and diagnostic tools available at Tawam Hospital”.
Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System and is owned and operated by SEHA, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
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