This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
August 19, 2021, marked a significant milestone for 14-year-old Mercy Mboya, who has been living with epilepsy since she was two years old. While her seizures have been well-controlled, her doctor, Eddie Chengo, an epileptologist at The Epilepsy Neurology Centre – Malindi, cautions that teenagers are more likely to be ambivalent about taking medications and may be less consistent.
"The problem is that even one missed pill can result in a seizure," Dr. Chengo emphasizes. He also warns that reduced seizure attacks do not always mean that they are completely gone. "If a patient forgets a pill and a seizure doesn’t happen, they may mistakenly think they no longer need the medicine," he adds.
Compliance with drug treatment is a particular problem with teens, who may deny their condition, worry about side effects, or feel complacent about good seizure control. Additionally, peer pressure to conform and rebellion against parental involvement in their epilepsy management can also be significant challenges.
Side effects are crucial at this age, as even mild cognitive dysfunction may permanently harm education and employment prospects. Regular sleep advice is particularly important in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, the commonest form in teenagers. Abstinence from alcohol is also necessary, as it can impair sleep quality and provoke seizures.
While exposure to computer screens and flashing lights may concern patients and parents, photosensitive epilepsy is relatively harmless to most teenagers. To make a successful transition into adulthood, teens with epilepsy need to tackle issues such as:
- Learning that their epilepsy is their own and does not belong to their parents or doctors.
- Learning about their epilepsy to make informed lifestyle choices and assume responsibility for their seizure medication and care needs.
- Managing their seizures and daily lives safely.
- Living their life fully while navigating safety precautions, lifestyle modifications, and the impact of epilepsy on their social, educational, and emotional lives.
