Physical Wellness

Young People With Epilepsy More Likely To Suffer Broken Bones

By Kamal Nayan | Update Date: Apr 14, 2014 09:09 AM EDT

Children and young adults with epilepsy are significantly more at risk of suffering from an injury like broken bones, burns and poisoning compared to those without the neurological disorder, according to a new research. 

According to research, young people with the condition are at larger risk of being poisoned by the medication. 

Researchers said doctors and other healthcare professionals should use the results of the study to help warn epilepsy patients of the increased risk associated with their illness. 

Statistically, the study found that young people with with epilepsy were more than twice as likely to be poisoned by medication. The percentage increased by four folds in patients aged between 19 and 24 years old. 

"More research is needed to understand why people with epilepsy have a greater number of medicine-related poisonings and whether the poisonings are intentional or accidental. This is the first study in the UK population to estimate the risk of fractures, burns and poisonings. The risk of a poisoning in the next five years for 1,000 people with epilepsy is about 20 extra poisonings compared to people who do not have epilepsy," said Dr Vibhore Prasad, of the University's Division of Primary Care, in the press release. 

Epilepsy is a chronic condition caused by a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary interruption in the way the brain normally works and resulting in a seizure. In the UK alone there are more than 600,000 people with epilepsy, read the release.

The study has been published in the latest edition of the journal Pediatrics

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