10 Mar Enderstanding Epilepsy in children under five years old

Every 33 minutes a life is turned upside down by epilepsy and this month, Epilepsy Queensland is calling on Australians to Make March Purple for the 65 million people globally who live with the condition, like 2-year-old Gold Coast child Sofi Garcia.

Sofi experienced her first seizure at 8-months old, a 1-hour long general tonic-clonic seizure – where an individual loses consciousness, their muscles stiffen and begin convulsing.

Upon receiving the diagnosis in hospital where Sofi was intubated, parents, Rafa and Mel, remember feeling devastated, isolated and worried.

Sofia and Rafa now always have emergency medicine on hand, and co-sleep with Sofi to ensure they can leap into action should a seizure onset. For Sofi’s parents, there’s no putting her down for a nap and getting housework done, they are on alert 24/7 and have called 000 more than 70 times since her first seizure.

Since connecting with Epilepsy Queensland, Sofi has been able to start day care, as staff have completed the not-for-profit’s Seizure Management and Administration of Midazolam training. The day care staff follow Sofi’s management plan to a tee and always keep a close eye on her – giving Sofi a better quality of life and time for Rafa and Mel to look after themselves – which is usually running to ensure they stay physically and mentally well to continue looking after Sofi.

Epilepsy is a medical condition that affects the brain and causes reoccurring seizures. It is the most common serious neurological condition in the world and can impact anyone at any stage of life – however is most common in children under five years old and adults over 60.

Make March Purple is a nation-wide campaign calling on Australians to wear purple and donate, so organisations like Epilepsy Queensland can keep kids who experience epilepsy safe – through understanding, information and support like seizure first aid and emergency medication administration training.

About Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a medical condition that affects the brain and causes recurring seizures.
• Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the world.
• Seizures occur when the brain’s nerve cells (neurons) misfire and generate sudden, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain.
• Signs of a seizure vary depending on where in the brain the electricity occurs
• Children under 5 years and adults over 60 years are the most common groups to be diagnosed with epilepsy, however.
• Epilepsy can affect ANYONE, at any age or stage of life.
• 50% of people do not know the cause of their epilepsy
• 30% of people with epilepsy will not respond to medication and seizures will remain uncontrolled.