International Epilepsy Day is a special event that promotes awareness of epilepsy in more than 120 countries each year. Every year on the second Monday of February, people join together to celebrate and highlight the problems that accompany epilepsy, their families, and caregivers.
International Epilepsy Day 2020
International Epilepsy Day 2020 will be celebrated on Tuesday 11 February 2020.
Programs were organized around the world to raise awareness about epilepsy and to promote research and training. The patients were provided with counseling support to their parents and caretakers.
People shared their thoughts, experiences and increased their concern on various social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook etc.
International Epilepsy Day – History
The celebration of International Epilepsy Day was announced on 4 January 2015 by the International Bureau of Epilepsy (IBE) and the first International Epilepsy Day was observed on Monday 9 February 2015.
There was a joint initiative of the IBE and the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
What is epilepsy
Epilepsy is a type of neurological disorder that causes sudden epileptic seizures. The period of seizures can be short or long and can cause loud tremors. In most cases, seizure is almost instantaneous and can result in physical injury. In addition, seizures have a tendency to reappear.
What causes epilepsy?
There may be many factors that can trigger epileptic seizures in an otherwise normal human. Some of them are strokes, brain injuries, and brain infections, brain tumors, or birth defects. In epilepsy, the cerebral cortex of the brain bears witness to excessive and abnormal neuronal activity.
Symptoms of epilepsy
Some common symptoms of epilepsy are listed below-
- Staring at a place constantly.
- Minor complication.
- Temporary syncope
- Feeling of fear and anxiety.
Importance of International Epilepsy Day
Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder affecting more than 39 million people worldwide. The disease affects 1% by the age of 20 and 3% by the age of 75%. Approximately 80% of epilepsy patients are found in developing countries.
Statistics show that approximately 40% of people living in developed countries are affected by epilepsy and do not receive appropriate treatment. In addition, more than 70% of people living in poor countries do not have access to proper medical care.
There is a lack of research in the field of epilepsy and no significant research has been done to predict epileptic seizures, which have occurred in a decade. The traditional method for prediction of epilepsy involves electroencephalogram (EEG), a cumbersome medical procedure.
Epileptic seizures occur almost suddenly, while engaging in normal activities every day, making EEG almost redundant. More research is needed so that new and faster means of predicting epileptic seizures can be created to prevent physical injury and other resulting damage.
In addition, there is a type of social trauma associated with the disease, which mostly arises due to lack of knowledge and awareness. People are afraid of epilepsy and some people even consider it contaminated, which is not true. A person with a history of seizure is often subjected to a type of social isolation, which causes the spread of the disease to other healthy individuals. This causes a great mental fatigue for the affected people and there is an urgent need to make people more aware of the disease and sympathetic to the patients.
Also, most people do not know what should be done if they or someone they know. If the patient is not provided with proper post seizure care it can cause some serious complications. Therefore, for all the above mentioned purposes, International Epilepsy Day needs to be observed.
How is International Epilepsy Day celebrated?
International Epilepsy Day is observed in more than 120 countries with IBE (International Bureau Against Epilepsy) and ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) representation.
Some of the countries that remain a part of the celebration are Austria, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Dubai, Egypt, Myanmar, Peru, Nepal and Sudan.
People around the world share their personal stories on the epilepsy.org website to make others aware of the causes, effects, and treatments of the disease.
Free seminars for people with epilepsy and their parents and caregivers are held in many places around the world.
International Epilepsy Day 2020
The International Bureau of Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) invite people from all international age groups to submit artwork related to the theme “Friendship and Inclusion”. The art presented will be accepted in the format of paintings, digital paintings and drawings.
The categories presented are divided into three groups as given below.
- Below 8 years of age (till 31 December 2019)
- 8 to 15 years of age (as of December 31, 2019)
- 16 years or more (till 31 December 2019)
How to celebrate International Epilepsy Day?
International Epilepsy Day in 2020 will be celebrated on Monday, 10 February. There are many ways by which you can be a part of celebrations and spread awareness.
1) Join social media campaign
You can connect with #EpilepsyDay to join an awareness campaign on the social networking site Twitter. You can join such campaigns on other social networks. Post your photo on International Epilepsy Day and your Twitter account holding the sign of @IntEpilepsyDay and @EpilepsyFdn. You can also use the #EpilepsyDay badge on your social media profile.
2) Increase Funds on Facebook
You can create a Facebook fund razor to support the International Epilepsy Day Campaign and Epilepsy Foundation. In this way you can support the mission in helping people overcome the challenges of surviving epilepsy. You can help people accelerate therapy and prevent seizures. To create your Facebook Fund Razor you just need to follow the instructions – choose either the Epilepsy Foundation of America or your local Epilepsy Foundation as your charitable organization at facebook.com/help/990087377765844.
3) participate in a program
Whether you live in a poor, developing or developed nation, there is always some event somewhere in your state or country. Find one and be a part of the celebration, whatever it is. It is very easy to find such events through your social media accounts. Any of such incidents are well covered by the media and are also well talked about on social media.
4) Meet Campi
Campi is a cute seashell that is the mascot of International Epilepsy Day. Incidentally, Campi also has epilepsy, although she is gentle and slightly shy of her kind. Watch a video of Campi having a class with her friends Kaila and Tuno and teacher Mr. W. Hale. Videos recently depict Campi going to the doctor due to some health issues. Videos are educational and especially suited for young children to raise awareness about epilepsy.
5) Share your story
If you are suffering from epilepsy yourself or you know someone who suffers from it, then share your story with others on social media and other mediums. In this way you raise awareness about the disease and spread some words of wisdom to someone else. You can share your story on the epilepsy.com forum for International Epilepsy Day.
Themes of International Epilepsy Day
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2020 is – “Friendship and Inclusion”.
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2019 was – No Theme.
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2018 was – “This is Me”.
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2017 was – “Putting Epilepsy in the Picture”.
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2016 was – “Yes, I can!”.
- Theme of International Epilepsy Day 2015 was – “Launch of the day and #EpilepsyDay”.