“It is becoming more and more complicated to treat patients correctly and to make the right diagnosis”, denounces Epilepsie-France.
- Epilepsy is a brain neurological disorder caused by the transient abnormal functioning of brain nerve cells (neurons).
- This excessive and simultaneous functioning of the neurons results in sudden “electric” discharges, which translate clinically into epileptic seizures.
“We ask the public authorities to speak out openly and grant us a National Epilepsy Plan to meet the needs of patients”. In a press release, Epilepsy-France calls on the government and start a petition.
“Significant territorial disparities”
“From a health point of view, deficiencies in the care of epilepsy are sorely felt: lack of organization of the care sector, significant territorial disparities, difficulties of access to the EEG (an examination that is nevertheless crucial for the diagnosis!), among others”deplore the activists. “It is becoming more and more complicated to treat patients correctly and to make the right diagnosis with the implementation of appropriate medication and coordinated care”, they add angrily.
Epilepsy is the second most frequent neurological pathology in France today. The number of patients of all ages with some form of epilepsy is officially estimated at 600,000, but in reality more than 3 million people are directly or indirectly affected (parents, spouses, etc.). Among these patients, 30% have a form of epilepsy resistant to treatment.
“Government disinterest”
Unpredictable seizures, treatments with effects that are sometimes difficult to manage, schooling, professional integration, travel, accommodation, family life: epilepsy has many repercussions on the quality of life of the patient and his relatives. “The sometimes very negative vision of the disease pushes many patients to hide their pathology and considerably complicates their social life, or even deprives them of it altogether. No one should be reduced to their pathology or suffer such a double penalty”, adds the patient association.
For the past two years, all the players in the world of epilepsy, united under the banner of the National Committee for Epilepsy, have been warning about these facts and proposing solutions. “Things are progressing, a little, thanks to our commitment”, they judge. Nevertheless, and while the prevalence of epilepsy makes it a real public health problem, “one can only note the disinterest of the public authorities for this cause”, activists are indignant. “We only deal with epilepsy from the angle of the health scandal”, they conclude.
.
