Raising Global Awareness for Epilepsy on Purple Day: Sonal Bhatia, MD, FACNS

WATCH TIME: 3 minutes

"Purple Day for me is to basically treat everyone with their epilepsy equally and make sure that everybody is aware of it to the best of our abilities."

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world, impacting around 50 million people worldwide. The disorder is characterized by recurrent seizures, which are episodes of abnormal brain activity. Symptoms of seizures can vary depending on the type and severity, but may include issues like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, localized jerking, visual disturbances, stiffening of the body, or drooling/frothing at the mouth, among others. According to the World Health Organization, up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could become seizure free with appropriate use of antiseizure medications; however, some cases are more challenging than others.

Purple Day®, celebrated annually on March 26^th, is a global grassroots events formed with the intention to increase worldwide awareness of epilepsy, and to dispel common myths and fears of this neurological disorder. During the day, supporters are encouraged to wear a purple-colored item of clothing, as purple is the international color for epilepsy. For Sonal Bhatia, MD, FACNS, an epileptologist, Purple Day is about uniting all communities of patients with epilepsy, especially those with limited health literacy or cultural misunderstandings.

Bhatia, director of the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit at the Medical University of South Carolina, recently sat down with NeurologyLive® to discuss the significance of Purple Day and what it can do for patients living with epilepsy. As a pediatric neurologist, she highlighted the importance of educating both the public and healthcare professionals about epilepsy’s impact, not only through seizures but also the neuropsychological challenges and stigma faced by individuals with epilepsy, especially children. Above all, she stressed that Purple Day is an opportunity to ensure equal awareness and understanding for all communities, particularly those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

***Purple Day is owned by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation and is used under license from The Anika Kaufmann Foundation***