Hyderabad based Star Hospitals has launched a comprehensive epilepsy programme for the benefit of thousands of patients suffering from epilepsy disease in the country. Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders characterized by epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures are episodes that can vary from brief and nearly undetectable to long periods of vigorous shaking.

Hospital sources informed that, the main aim of this programme is to provide optimum treatment planning for the patients through various treatment methods. For this the hospital administration has employed highly qualified and well experienced team of neurologists, epilepsy surgeons, neuro radiologists and neuro psychologists.

“The purpose of this programme is to have an all-round approach to the treatment and management of epilepsy patients. The programme will endeavour to provide new modalities of treatment and even epilepsy surgery for refractory cases. With an experienced Epilepsy Board constituted, the programme will ensure an integrated approach to treating epilepsy patients’ with highest level of care possible,” informed Dr GV Subbaiah Chowdhray, representing epilepsy programme at the Hospital.

The cause of most cases of epilepsy is unknown, although some people develop epilepsy as the result of brain injury, stroke, brain tumour, and drug and alcohol misuse. Genetic mutations are linked to a small proportion of the disease. Epileptic seizures are the result of excessive and abnormal cortical nerve cell activity in the brain. “In India, patients suffering with fits and seizers are growing by numbers. Approximately 6-10 persons per 1000 are affected by this disease,” said the doctor.

It is estimated that nearly 5 lakh people in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are suffering from epilepsy. In addition to lowering the quality of life, patients suffering from this disease also have to deal with several other social stigmas as they undergo potentially long-term treatment with heavy medications, potential side effects and regular diagnostic tests.

But of late things have changed. Thanks to surgical advances during the past one decade. Epilepsy patients can now benefit from non medication options like epilepsy surgery. Several studies have demonstrated high success rate of 60-90 per cent for epilepsy surgery cases. With nearly 10 per cent of epilepsy patients potentially being candidates for surgery, it is estimated that at least 50,000 patients in Telangana and AP can benefit from epilepsy surgery.