National epilepsy week this year will be highlighting the lack of awareness about epilepsy that exists in society - we are all encouraged to educate more people, from Members of Parliament and other key decision makers to the general public, about epilepsy.

One excellent way of raising awareness is to write to your local MP to request a meeting at their local constituency office during the Friday or Saturday of National Epilepsy Week or as soon as possible afterwards. 

The purpose of the week will be to:

* raise the MP's awareness about epilepsy

* inform the MP about any problems you have had accessing epilepsy services

* ask the MP to take action to improve their personal knowledge about epilepsy and to improve epilepsy services.

 

Robert Fletcher was a normal baby until he had his MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) triple vaccine at the age of 13 months - this was in 1992 after a Health Visitor had explained to Robert's mother about the new triple vaccine which prevented the diseases that could be fatal and assured her that it had been used in the US for 20 years without problems.

A month after his first birthday Robert had a devestating epileptic seizure. His parents then heard about other children who had also apparently reacted to the MMR jab, developing bowel disease, autism, epilepsy, arthritis and other conditions within 2 weeks of having the vaccination.

Thousands of children with epilepsy could benefit from the first drug ever designed for them, which can almost halve the number of seizures.

Unlike other treatments given to youngsters with epilepsy, Inovelon was not originally developed for adults.

Usually children with the condition are put on medication only tested on adults which is adjusted for their age and weight, but experts say the long-term safety of some drugs has not been properly assessed for youngsters.

Inovelon has been designed for children with a type of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome which causes 'Drop' attacks where sufferers fall to the floor during seizures.

Clinical trials showed the drug led to a 42.5 per cent reduction in the frequency of 'drop' attacks. It reduced the occurrence of all types of seizure by 32.7 per cent.

Launched in the UK today, the drug will be used to treat around 1,000 children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It may also potentially help an additional 20,000 children with more common forms of epilespy. Inovelon is a one a day pill that costs £5 a day.

A ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants, shops, workplaces etc. took effect on July 1st in England - on July 1st, Australia, which has been at the forefront of a near-global push for smoking bans for over a decade, saw a smoking ban take effect at pubs and clubs in two of Australia's most populous states.  Ireland and other European countries have banned smoking indoors - while some parts of Canada and a number of US States have strict controls.

How does this effect people with Epilepsy?

There are, as with most things, differing opinions on the subject of smoking and epilepsy - the Epilepsy Organisation of Australia says:

"Nicotine is both a stimulant and a depressant to the central nervous system, there is no evidence to suggest that smoking cigarettes or cigars can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy"

Wyoming Epilepsy Organisation says - "Smoking cigarettes can also trigger seizures. The nicotine in cigarettes acts on receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, which increases neuronal firing".

There is however a warning from the Epilepsy Organisation of Australia who say;

Energy saving light bulbs can trigger epilepsy-like symptoms in sufferers of the condition, it revealed yesterday.

The bulbs - soon to be compulsory in homes - have caused dizziness, lightheadedness and other symptoms experienced in the early stages of a seizure. Judging by the number of complaints to charities and MPs, thousands may have already been affected.

In March the Government joined other EU leaders in agreeing to phase out incandescent bulbs from 2009. The low-energy versions last longer and cut carbon dioxide emissions. However, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said there has been 'no assessment' of the impact on epilepsy sufferers.

In answer to a parliamentary question, he admitted that the bulbs may also affect the 16000 Britons with lupus, an autoimmune disease.

It is unclear how the low-energy bulbs are triggering the symptoms as, though they do flicker, the rate is different to that usually associated with seizures. The answer may lie in the way the light is generated with light produced by low-energy bulbs having a different wave-length pattern.

In recent months Geoffrey Cox, Tory MP for Torridge and West Devon, has received around 20 complaints. He said 'If I have had 15-20 letters, there must be hundreds around the country affected - even thousands.'

A spokesman for the charity Epilepsy Action said it was investigating after receiving several complaints.