Kaculini Christian M, Tate-Looney Amelia J, Seifi Ali
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
Cureus. 2021 Mar 17;13(3):e13953. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13953.
Epilepsy is an ancient disease, which has fascinated and frightened scientists and laymen alike. Before the working knowledge of the central nervous system, seizures were shrouded in mystery. In antiquity, this disease was accredited to gods and demonic possession, causing those with epilepsy to be feared and isolated. Epilepsy patients continued to face discrimination through the mid-20th century. This discrimination ranged from lack of access to health insurance, jobs, and marriage equality to forced sterilizations. Despite the strides that have been made, there are still many misconceptions globally regarding epilepsy. Studies show that patients with epilepsy in communities that understand the pathology and cause of seizures are generally more successful in social and educational environments. While there has been progress, there is more work which needs to be done to educate people across the globe about the pathology of epilepsy.
癫痫是一种古老的疾病，它既让科学家着迷，也让外行人感到恐惧。在对中枢神经系统有深入了解之前，癫痫发作一直笼罩在神秘之中。在古代，这种疾病被归咎于神灵和恶魔附身，导致癫痫患者被恐惧和孤立。直到20世纪中叶，癫痫患者仍面临歧视。这种歧视包括无法获得医疗保险、工作机会、婚姻平等，甚至被强制绝育。尽管已经取得了一些进展，但全球范围内对癫痫仍存在许多误解。研究表明，在了解癫痫发作病理和病因的社区中，癫痫患者在社会和教育环境中通常表现得更为出色。虽然已经取得了进步，但仍有更多工作要做，以让全球各地的人们了解癫痫的病理。
