In India, nearly 10 in every 1000 people live with epilepsy, a neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures, yet stigma, delayed diagnosis and gaps in treatment continue to shadow patients and their families.
On National Epilepsy Day, neurologists say the biggest battle is not only medical, but also social, as India still struggles to recognise epilepsy as a treatable brain condition, not a supernatural or psychological one.
National Epilepsy Day is observed every year to raise awareness about epilepsy. A neurological condition that affects brain function and leads to recurrent seizures. The day highlights the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and greater social acceptance for… pic.twitter.com/cFQO9WVWlh
— Divyang Empowerment (@socialpwds) November 17, 2025
The latest estimates suggest that over 10–12 million Indians have epilepsy, making it one of the country’s most common neurological disorders. But experts believe this number may be higher because many cases go unreported, especially in rural areas where seizures are often misunderstood as possession, behavioural problems, or mental illness.
As per a study published in PubMed Central in the journal Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 'Of the 70 million persons with epilepsy (PWE) worldwide, nearly 12 million PWE are expected to reside in India, which contributes to nearly one-sixth of the global burden.'
"Epilepsy is still a big health problem around the world, affecting more than 50 million people as one of the most common brain disorders. It makes up over 0.5 per cent of the world's disease burden, showing years lost because of early death and disability, with big health-care costs and lost work. The money impact is huge; for example, in the United States just hospital stays for epilepsy have cost over $200 billion in recent decades," says Dr Sreelakshmi N, Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist at S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim - A Fortis Associate.
Epilepsy still has a big impact on people, not just from the seizures but also because many wait too long to get help.
"A lot of patients come to epilepsy specialists like us years after their first seizure, which can make their condition harder to treat. As an epileptologist specialised in treating epilepsy, we see how getting help early can change people's lives for the better. It's key for everyone to know that epilepsy is something we can treat, not just a label society puts on people, " Dr Sreelakshmi added.
Experts agree that getting rid of the shame around epilepsy is just as important as treating the seizures.
The treatment gap—the number of people with epilepsy not getting proper care—stays high in poor and middle-income countries, where up to 80 per cent might not have access to good treatment.
Things that get in the way include not enough trained health workers, high costs, social shame, and not enough seizure drugs. This gap leads to seizures that could be stopped, injuries, mental stress, and problems like not having a job and a worse life.
But, if people get the right treatment at the right time, most can live without seizures, say doctors.
New drugs, operations, and diet plans have made things better. "Teaching people and cutting down on shame are key to helping patients and families get help without fear or waiting, which can lower the personal and money problems caused by epilepsy."
Many families discontinue medication once seizures stop, leading to a dangerous relapse. The Epilepsy Foundation of India notes that non-compliance is one of the leading causes of uncontrolled seizures, especially among adolescents and young adults.
Women often face double the stigma. Families hide epilepsy diagnoses, fearing 'marriage prospects', pushing women away from education, jobs, or even mobility. Doctors say women frequently remain undiagnosed, untreated, or under-treated compared to men.
Pregnant women with epilepsy can have healthy pregnancies, but only when medication is monitored closely. Yet very few get access to specialised care.
Paediatric neurologists say children with epilepsy are still pushed out of schools or forced into homeschooling. Teachers often lack training to respond to seizures. Many schools still insist on special permissions to admit a child with epilepsy. The result is social isolation, academic setbacks, and low self-esteem.
Over the last decade, India has seen better access to safer anti-seizure medications, video EEG monitoring units, diet therapies and implantable devices like VNS (vagus nerve stimulation) as centres such as AIIMS, NIMHANS and private hospitals now run dedicated epilepsy programs where multidisciplinary teams work together.
Stigma remains the single greatest barrier
People with epilepsy still struggle to get jobs, get driving licenses, receive timely first aid at schools and workplaces and disclose their diagnosis without discrimination.
On National Epilepsy Day, doctors emphasise that the disorder is neurological, not psychological, and that early diagnosis, continuous medication, and community awareness can dramatically improve outcomes.
In case of seizures, doctors recommend keeping the person safe and lying them on their side, not putting anything in their mouth, not trying to restrain them and seeking emergency help if it lasts more than 5 minutes.
Despite improvements, India does not yet have a national epilepsy programme like its campaigns for TB, HIV or polio. Experts say public messaging, school awareness drives, and better integration into primary care are essential to close the treatment gap.
As India marks National Epilepsy Day, the message from neurologists is simple but urgent: 'Recognise epilepsy. Treat it early. End the stigma.'
