By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

DON’T WORRY ABOUT DAUGHTER’S EPILEPTIC FRIEND, IT’S NOT CATCHING

Question: My daughter’s friend has epilepsy. I get nervous when she comes to our house for a sleepover. What exactly is epilepsy and why does this child have it? Can my daughter catch it?

Answer: Epilepsy is also called a seizure disorder. A seizure occurs when the brain’s electrical system malfunctions, causing an abnormal firing of the brain cells. This firing may cause muscle contractions over the entire body and unconsciousness or staring. Seizures last for a couple of minutes and are usually followed by sleepiness or mild confusion.

Epilepsy affects about 3 million people in the United States. Males are more likely than females to have epilepsy as are African-Americans. Around the world, about 60 million people have epilepsy. It can start at any age, but the onset is more common under the age of 2 and over 65. Recent trends show a decline in the seizure rates in children and an increase in the rates of elderly. In about 70 percent of all cases no cause of the of epilepsy can be determine. We do know, however, that certain medical conditions as well as family history can increase the risk of developing epilepsy.

Seizures are classified in three ways. Are they generalized or partial? Did they begin in childhood or as an adult? Are they controlled by treatment or uncontrolled?

If only a portion of the brain is involved, a seizure is considered partial. In these cases, as you might expect, the whole body is not affected. Symptoms are usually confined to one side and may involve actions such as head turning, lip smacking, eye movement, mouth movement, drooling, and rhythmic muscle contractions. Sometimes symptoms can be much more subtle and may involve nothing more than abnormal sensations -- numbness, tingling, or a crawling sensation over the skin.

A generalized seizure, on the other hand, involves abnormal firings in the entire brain. This type of seizure can produce staring spells, sudden and very short duration jerking of the extremities, or loss of consciousness with violent muscle contractions. This last type of seizure, which is what most people think of when they hear the term epilepsy, is called a grand mal seizure.

There are many medications available for treating epilepsy, and 70 percent of epileptics are controlled on medications and are seizure free. After five years of being seizure free on medications, many people are considered to be in remission. Often it is possible in these cases to stop the medication without a return of seizures.

You are probably worried about what to do if your daughter’s friend has a seizure at your house. First of all, remain calm. Generally there is nothing for you to do. Make sure the child is safe and not going to get hurt, like falling off a bed or falling up against a hot stove. If she is free from potential harm, do nothing. The seizure will usually end in less than two minutes. Then she’ll want to sleep.

I’d suggest that prior to the next sleepover, you call the girl’s mother. Ask her about the kind of seizures her daughter has and how she would want you to handle a seizure, should one occur at your house.

Finally, you need have no worry about your daughter or any of the other children catching epilepsy. It’s not contagious.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.