'Prolonged use of mobile phones or anxiety increase risk of epileptic seizure'

Lack of awareness about mobile phone use or prolonged state of anxiety may aggravate seizures in a person with epilepsy, say experts as they pitch for a treatment regimen through use of safer alternatives and improved understanding of the disease, especially among the caregivers.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterised by recurrent seizures which may vary from a brief lapse of attention or muscle jerks, to severe and prolonged convulsions.

Speaking at the day-long event on 'International Epilepsy Day' held here on Monday, A K Sahani, senior consultant of Neurology at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) said talking over mobile phones for a short time is not detrimental to the health of a person with epilepsy.

He, however, said the person should avoid talking for a long duration over mobile as it has been seen that radiations have a role to play in increasing the risk of seizures.

"In such cases, it is better to use a ...