There has been a stream of traffic since the article on the above subject emerged. Many people have sent texts and e messages asking questions and for assistance in one area or the other. Most of the questions have been persistent on drug treatment and permanent cure, and I felt it was necessary I clarified a few of these issues. Please be informed that relevant medical professional regulatory bodies do not allow prescription of drugs by text or e messages. You may have all sorts of information on the internet, but just as you have pictures on face book, what ever ways you use the information accessed on the internet and the results you get are entirely your responsibility. If a patent medicine shop attendant picks up something from a book and hastens to apply it to any patient who comes along, he may not have issues, but those who have passed through formal systems of doing things are more careful not to play heroes with precious human lives, because there are sanctions put in place
Apart from seizures associated with fever, you really don’t want to talk about cure
Emphasis rather is on knowing the medical history of your parents, brothers sisters, uncles etc, to the best possible. Knowing your own medical background and that of your husband, wife or the person you intend to marry, and on recognizing patterns of the different types when they occur, particularly when the patient is a child (up to age 14)
During attacks, drugs are given in order to stop(abort) the seizure-this usually is the first thing a Doctor does, as he tries to find out possible causes and associations by asking so many questions. Stress had to be placed on the fact that you must be ready to answer these questions and not compound the efforts of the Doctor who in our environment is forced to rely on clinical judgment because, he does not have the benefits of expensive but very useful diagnostic machines. When seizures are due to obstructive lesions in the pathway for circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for instance leading to hydrocephalus and the brain of an affected child becomes very large, abscess in the brain occupying space, tumor growing rapidly some where in the brain, abnormal metabolic patterns in the brain, injury to brain tissues etc – can very quickly be diagnosed with the aid of machines such as computed axial tomography (CAT) scan, positron emission tomography(PET)-for seizures where derangement in EUC and other metabolites is suspect, electroencephalogram(EEG), Multi analyzer etc all of which can give you results within minutes of arrival in Hospital,
The drugs administered in respect of, how, when, where, -route of administration are all important .Equally important is knowing what not to give; these conditions are about the only ones in children where Doctors prefer the veins, the muscle, skin and the rectum/anus as safer routes to administer their drugs. They are also the conditions where they don’t rush to give drips( intravenous fluids)-here I am referring to medically qualified persons.
Two or three people wanted to know about surgical treatment of these conditions in India-There is no doubt that Neuro surgeons in that country have made giant strides in the past few years, but we also need to stress that success or failure of surgical interventions involving the brain can only be assessed on individual basis.
The reality of it all, is that results of surgery involving the brain in Children are not as forthcoming as the ease with which they are performed. Revision surgery is unavoidable in some cases and when they are seen the outcome are often talked about in whispers.
Many people have also come to discover that not all persons who seek medical treatment overseas have success stories to tell – the death of the wife of a former Nigerian head of state in the hands of an experienced surgeon and in one of the best Hospitals overseas should drive the need to establish good health facilies here in Nigeria.
Unfortunately those who should listen are not doing so-even when it is obvious that you can’t fly every one out. Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa did well to put the best facilities you can find on earth in South Africa ,and so when he developed respiratory problems, probably from reactivation of foci of M. Tuberculosis contracted during his prison years, he checked into one of such facilities, doing so with unalloyed confidence. Current information is that he has done so well he now views television will soon be discharged home – contrast that with the situation in here. Not too long ago, a prominent Nigerian went overseas after he had been given the not very pleasant diagnosis of late stage brain tumor and after taking him through several high medical tech machines, they couldn’t fault the diagnosis that was made here in Nigeria. They then asked him to come back here and undergo palliative care for the period left for him to live. He then began to ask questions, one of which was ‘where in Nigeria was he going to stay?” Officials of the Hospital then reminded him that dying in a hospital overseas from a terminal condition was a liability not a privilege.
The huge problems facing the health sector and education have their origin in Godlessness, such that people in position do not consider the interest of ordinary people once they get to positions of authority. If those in charge of running the various systems adhered to the basic prescription for peace, love and harmony as provided by Jesus Christ-do unto others as you would have them do unto you, this country would have since swum out of the present situation of hopelessness, and as a result of this problem of arrant insincerity, the poor continue to die young, while the rich continue to buy every thing including health and education.
Take for instance the current situation where Students in Public Universities are forced to idle way at home while their fellow Nigerians in private universities in their own country have continued to enjoy the academic momentum, because someone somewhere insists that an agreement signed over three years ago should be disrespected. Is it not egregious that a formidable constituency in the present dispensation like ASSUU is being treated with so much disdain and yet some labor unions known to be reasonably vocal and participatory at foreboding times like these have suddenly become amnesic? Why are those complaining about falling standards of education in this country, and who can not provide the yardstick employed not talking? It is for the reason that is now obvious; their children are studying overseas and so let the rain continue to fall into the houses of the other Nigerian students until Jesus comes back . So for majority of adult Nigerians the literacy score continues to drop, 68% before 2010, it is now below 50%, and with it the level of health education, in particular education concerning maternal and child care.
Therefore in situations where survival is the matter, and one CT scan of the brain costs #60,00.00 (probably about 2 times total family income), parents are advised to be more concerned about preventing attacks of seizure or epilepsy – prompt treatment of malaria, typhoid, mouth, throat and ear infections etc, avoid creating unnecessary stressful conditions for other people, that way you don’t have it your self. A few days after the introductory part of this article was published, the pop music star, Chris Brown suffered a seizure said to have been caused by stress. Older children(teenagers 13,14) in this computer age are exposed to intra psychic conflicts, some of these arising from intuitive perceptions-social media, school work, house chores, family, peer pressure and so on, parents are expected to be involved in the lives of their children, one very successful way of doing this is fellowship with God.
There is no over flogging the importance of taking children hospital in these conditions. One can only mention a few things on paper so that misunderstanding does not cloud good intentions. Once observed, you must be very warm and sympathetic to the affected child. He must receive love, attention and have access to all that there is to know about his illness Basic steps have been mentioned when attacks begin-lie patient face down, head turned to one side, don’t sit him up, so secretions will come out.
Some one talked about hot sand or clay-these are dangerous in situations that subsist during attacks.
Another person claims to have developed permanent herbal cure for seizures and epilepsy with guarantee, and says he is willing to engage who ever is interested for details, contact address will be provided to those interested.
As concerns some maintenance drugs, do not adjust dosage or change drugs on your own, even if you have moved and a different Doctor has taken over.
As regards dosage in children not working as expected – you must allow your Doctor titrate the dosage in graduated pattern until your child no longer has seizures-patience is important.
About foaming in the mouth mixed with blood—This does not mean situation is getting out of hands, and it may arise when the tongue is trapped between the teeth. Very strong tonic contractions of the throat muscles can also cause it, more so if the condition goes into status epilepticus.
I am awfully sorry I don’t have the time to reply text messages. You can call or send e mail.
For the pastor who sought permission to use three previous articles and was given the go ahead at no cost. Kindly return this favour; send a copy of the magazine as you promised, please the spirit of God lead you to do what is right.
