COVID’s Impact on Seizure Disorders and Epilepsy
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly altered and impacted all areas of our lives, and one group that is especially affected are those with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Difficulties In Receiving Medical Attention
The COVID-19 pandemic has flooded the hospitals with those infected with coronavirus, which has made it difficult for many with epilepsy to be seen in a hospital. Virtual and video visits are one solution to this problem, but it is challenging to complete all areas of epilepsy care, specifically EEGs, through a virtual format. For those looking to have their epilepsy diagnosed, long-term hospital stays may also be more difficult to accommodate if there are no available rooms in the hospital.
Does Covid-19 Make Seizures Worse?
With the many side effects reported with COVID-19, it is only natural to wonder if it can worsen someone’s seizure disease. However, this is not a straightforward answer.
It does not appear as if COVID-19 itself worsens seizures in those with epilepsy, which is good news. Of course, anyone with epilepsy is just as susceptible to COVID-19 infection as any other individual, so while COVID-19 does not worsen seizures, it can still cause a variety of other side effects in those who contract it.
However, just because COVID-19 does not affect seizure activity does not mean that those with epilepsy are not facing repercussions from the pandemic. The Epilepsy Foundation estimates that 1 in 4 people with epilepsy are self-reporting more seizures during the pandemic.
This higher occurrence of seizures is likely from the increasing stress the COVID-19 pandemic places on us, which increases the risk of seizures.
In addition, access to medicine or getting ahold of healthcare providers may also be more difficult for some due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and not having these resources can also make seizures more frequent.
The Mental Health Impact of The Pandemic
Those with epilepsy are already at a higher risk of mental health problems, but the challenges that have appeared with the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the mental health concerns that affect those with epilepsy. Stress levels have elevated across the board, which, in addition to increasing the frequency of seizures, can also lead to depression and anxiety.
Many people with epilepsy cite the following as their main sources of stress:
- negative media
- poor sleep
- financial stress
- social isolation
- routine changes
To help with the increasing risk of anxiety and depression, many seizure clinics have created virtual support groups to help address the growing amount of mental health disorders that affect those with epilepsy.
Trials In Obtaining Medication
One of the most common reasons for the increased seizure frequency observed during the pandemic is that individuals forgot to take their antiepileptic drugs or had difficulty obtaining the medication they needed.
A significant hurdle in getting the medication needed to prevent seizures is financing. The many employment layoffs experienced during the pandemic have left many individuals with epilepsy unemployed, creating significant financial burdens and limiting the ability to purchase antiepileptic drugs.
How COVID-19 Affects Those with Seizure Disorders and Epilepsy
Overall, the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection are relatively unknown, so it can be hard to say how COVID-19 may affect those with seizure disorders as the years go by. That being said, COVID-19 itself, at the moment, does not appear to impact those with epilepsy any differently than other individuals.
The most significant impact of COVID-19 on those with epilepsy lies in the increased stress and difficulty in meeting providers that the pandemic has prompted. In addition to those already diagnosed with epilepsy struggling to meet with doctors and get the medication they need, there are also the many hurdles those not yet diagnosed have had to face.
Individuals who have not yet been diagnosed require an EEG, which was likely hard to get at the beginning of the pandemic. This previous difficulty likely means these individuals had to go longer without a diagnosis because of general overload in the healthcare area.
As healthcare facilities have increased availability, it is crucial for those with epilepsy, including those not yet diagnosed, to receive any needed EEGs to diagnose their disorder and begin treatment.
References
What We Know Now About Epilepsy and COVID-19. (2022). Retrieved 7 April 2022, from https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2021/1/what-we-know-now-about-epilepsy-and-covid-19
Sureka, R. K., Gaur, V., & Gupta, M. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on People Suffering with Epilepsy. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 24(1), 51–55. https://doi.org/10.4103/aian.AIAN_623_20