Blog #117: TIPS: YOUR EPILEPSY IN OUR NEW COVID-19 WORLD

Now that we’re secluded in our homes do we live alone or with others?

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.

Lance Fogan, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “DINGS” is his first novel. It is a mother’s dramatic story that teaches epilepsy, now available in eBook, audiobook and soft cover editions.