International Epilepsy Day is marked in order to recognise that epilepsy is an illness and spread the message that people who suffer from it can be successful.
It is estimated that one in every 100 people suffers from epilepsy. Despite it being a recognised neurological disorder, there is still a lot of stigma and discrimination associated with epilepsy.
Epilepsy South Africa’s Gauteng Director, Magdaleen Kruger, says many people succeed in life despite living with the condition.
“It is not a mental illness. It is not a psychiatric disorder and it is not infectious or contagious. It is a normal illness of the brain characterised by unusual electrical activity in the brain. People who suffer from epilepsy can live a full life if their condition is accepted as an illness.”