Safety in dealing
with the Corona Virus-19 starts with minimizing/avoiding close contact with other
people as much as possible; wearing a face mask over both your nose and mouth
to try to avoid spread of nasal/oral droplets and avoid contact with other
people to minimize spreading the virus. Even if you are asymptomatic these
actions should be done when around others and even more so if you believe you have
mild cough, fever, aches and headaches. During this spring-time season,
allergies usually cause running nose, itchy eyes but do not cause fevers. One tell-tale
symptom of Covid-19 can be altered or loss
of smell and taste; this is uncommon in other types of infections.
Fevers and viral
infection syndromes commonly lower resistance to epileptic seizures. Spending
more time in front of your computer screen exposed to flashing/flickering lights
and geometric patterns such as checks or stripes in computer games can provoke
seizures in up to 5% of those people who have epilepsy of the photosensitive epilepsy-type. Flickering overhead lights, sunlight
through blinds and fast-moving figures on television screens may also trigger
seizures in these people, too.
Tiredness and
getting insufficient sleep are known triggers of seizures in people with
epilepsy so be sure to get enough rest and take your anti-seizure medications
as directed. Avoid drinking alcohol; alcohol can bring on seizures in epilepsy.
Your doctor should be available for telephone consultations when desired if
face-to-face meetings are not necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As always, take
precautions in your home. Be sure not to bathe/shower unless someone else is
home with you whenever possible and keep the bathroom door open. I know of 17
patients who drowned in the bathtub (over a century ago Mark Twain’s adult
daughter, Jean, had epilepsy and was found drowned in the bathtub) including 5
who fell face-down in the shower blocking the drain; they drowned in just 2
inches of water. Younger children bathing when mother can’t stay close should
have the child sing. If singing stops mom should rush to check the child. When
you cook, use only the rear burners to avoid falling on to hot coils, flames,
and on to hot pots should you have a seizure at the stove.
You stay safe! The
above suggestions can help you do that.
