Epilepsy is one of the oldest diseases known to man, and it was misunderstood, as the belief prevailed in earlier times that it was a "demonic prejudice", but modern science refuted that, and reached many options for its treatment, including medications and surgery, so when is epilepsy treated with surgery?

The head of the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center - affiliated with the Institute of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in the United States - Dr. Imad Najm said that the fears surrounding epilepsy constitute a major obstacle to taking the necessary measures to confront it, despite the fact that it is one of the oldest health conditions discovered Known.

He stressed that complete control of the attacks caused by the disease could be the difference between life and death.

He explained that epilepsy affects 1% of people worldwide, indicating that although this percentage can rise in some countries, the global rate of infection remains confined to between 1% and 2% in total.

Chronic neurological disease
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease, and causes the patient to have periodic attacks ranging from medium to severe, and it is accompanied by several symptoms such as stares and eyelashes quickly and muscle stiffness or excessive relaxation.

It also appears on the other patient, such as shaking the arms, feet or head without being able to control them, as well as cases of loss of balance and falls or fainting and loss of consciousness.

Sudden death
Dr. Negm stressed that the diagnosis is the most important stage in the treatment of this disease, noting that neglecting seizures and not treating them may lead to a significant deterioration in the patient's condition, and more importantly, neglecting the treatment may cause catastrophic results that lead to sudden death.

He added: "Sudden deaths affect one in every thousand patients with epilepsy annually, and these severe results can be avoided only by receiving appropriate treatment by specialized doctors to reach full control of the nerve attacks caused by epilepsy."

Usually, the patient is diagnosed with epilepsy after having suffered at least two episodes, at which time doctors can direct treatment through three treatment options available to control the disease.

Dr. Negm pointed out that there are many treatment options that enable doctors to help patients control the disease, the first and most important of which is the correct diagnosis that helps in choosing the appropriate medications.

He added: "There are currently many effective drugs that we can use to treat epilepsy patients."

Surgical intervention
In cases where medications do not succeed with full control of epileptic seizures, Dr. Najm explained that they usually go to the surgical intervention that requires beginning to locate the disease in the brain, then starting the process.

He attributed the hesitation of some patients in deciding to undergo surgical work, to their lack of awareness that this considered risk may be a reason to save their lives, as well as their misconception that this surgical operation is a newly followed procedure.

However, he stressed that "the surgical work followed in the treatment of epilepsy is considered one of the approved procedures followed since the seventies of the last century, and that the opportunity to heal the patient and get rid of epileptic seizures completely is 50% higher when performing this surgery."

He concluded by saying: "These developments must be good news for patients suffering from epilepsy. Today, when they undergo correct treatment, the vast majority of them can bypass the disease, get rid of seizures, and return to fully practicing their normal lives."