Health
Epilepsy, Sign Of Degenerative Diseases, Stroke –Neurologist
A Professor of Internal Medicine and Neurology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, Ikenna Onwuekwe, says recurrent epilepsy in adults could be signs of degenerative diseases, stroke or tumour.
He advised that an elderly individual, who has been experiencing epilepsy, should be taken to a physician for thorough medical examination, so that the root cause can be diagnosed and treated.
According to Mayo Clinic, an online health portal, epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness.
It noted that anyone can develop epilepsy, adding that it affects males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages.
Mayo Clinic explained that epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half the people with the condition.
It noted that however, in the other half, the condition may be traced to various factors that include genetic influence, head trauma, brain abnormalities and infections like meningitis, HIV, viral encephalitis and some parasitic infections. Others are prenatal injury (before birth) and developmental disorders such as autism.
For degenerative disease, Docdoc.com, a medical information portal explained that it is a type of medical condition that causes a tissue or organ to deteriorate over time.
It noted that there are quite a number of degenerative diseases and many of them are associated with aging or could get worse during the aging process.
“Degenerative diseases are classified into three main groups: cardiovascular, neoplastic, and nervous system. The most common cardiovascular diseases are hypertension, coronary disease, and myocardial infarction. Neoplastic diseases include tumours and cancer. Diseases that affect the nervous system include Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
“Degenerative diseases are caused by a wide variety of factors. Some are a direct result of normal wear and tear of the body, while others are perpetuated by poor health or an unhealthy lifestyle,” the site stated.
Prof. Onwuekwe, who is the Founder and Inaugural President of International League Against Epilepsy, Nigeria Chapter, clarified that seizures are different from epilepsy, noting that isolated seizures can occur from multiple causes and are not repetitive in nature, while epilepsy is repeated seizures that occur at least twice in the absence of fever.
Speaking with The Tide’s source, the neurologist, who is also the head of the Neurology Unit at the teaching hospital, said, “For older adults and elderly individuals, many causes of epilepsy are due to cerebrovascular diseases, such as stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
“Tumours remain an important cause, while traumatic brain injury and post-surgery complications are known causes as well.”
Prof. Onwuekwe revealed that drug and alcohol abuse can also cause epilepsy in an older adult.
He said a person suffering from a seizure may not be aware of or mildly affected when having an episode.
The neurologist explained that the seizure manifestation of epilepsy may sometimes be mistaken for other conditions.
According to him, it is necessary that those close to elderly persons having epilepsy should watch out for the symptoms, as they may vary.
He added, “All seizures are of brain origin and involve sudden abnormal generations of very high electrical activity by cortical neurons with involvement of certain subcortical structures.
“There may be a complete loss of consciousness in seizures if both hemispheres of the brain are affected during the seizure. Otherwise, consciousness may be normal or only mildly affected if it is coming from one hemisphere.
“The seizure manifestation can be multiple and often mistaken for other conditions. Motor manifestation such as repetitive jerking of limbs on one or both sides of the body, or facial twitching, are called convulsions.
“Sensory manifestations such as repetitive loss of sensation or unusually heightened feelings in the face or limbs can occur. Visual components of seizures are recognised too.
“Speech arrest may occur. Abnormalities of involuntary functions such as breathing, blood pressure, gut functions, sweating, laughing or crying may all be types of seizures, just as repetitive short-lived behavioural changes.”
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.
