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KNYSNA NEWS - Monday, 12 February was the start of National Epilepsy Week and to raise awareness about the disorder Knysna Epilepsy organised an eventful week.
The activities ranged from visiting schools and businesses, awareness at clinics, a Valentine’s Day fashion show, a candlelight ceremony, a fun day at the centre and a run.
Epilepsy is a chronic, neurological disorder that causes interference with the brain’s electrical system.
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This change in electrical impulses may cause brief changes in movement, behaviour, feeling or awareness, said director of Epilepsy Lee-Ann van den Bergh during a candlelight ceremony at Knysna Primary on Wednesday, 15 February.
Van den Bergh squashed some of the myths associated with epilepsy and said people living with epilepsy can lead a ‘normal’ life and she cited examples like American rapper Lil Wayne.
There was good support at the meeting.
She explained that seizures, abnormal movements or behaviour due to unusual electrical activity in the brain, are symptoms of epilepsy.
However, she said one seizure doesn’t mean a person has epilepsy.
“Approximately 10% of the population will have seizures, and approximately 1% will be diagnosed with epilepsy and more common in males than females” she said.
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