Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Seizures

Table of Contents


Call your health care provider if

If this is the first time someone has ever had a seizure, or if this is an unusually long seizure in someone who has a seizure disorder, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. These symptoms can be caused by life-threatening conditions, such as a stroke or meningitis.

Report all seizures (even a mild one) to the health care provider. If the person is known to have epilepsy or recurrent seizures, their doctor should be notified so that medications can be adjusted or other instructions given.


What to expect at your health care provider's office

Often, a person who has had a new or severe seizure will be seen in an emergency room, rather than a doctor's office.

The health care provider will try to diagnose the type of seizure based on the symptoms.

Other medical conditions that can cause a seizure or similar symptoms will be ruled out. Disorders that may cause similar symptoms include fainting, TIA or stroke, rage or panic attacks, migraine headaches, sleep disturbances, and conditions that cause loss of consciousness.

The following tests may be done:

  • Blood tests
  • CT scan of the head or MRI of the head
  • EEG (usually not in the emergency room)
  • Lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap)

The need for further tests or treatment depends on a number of factors.

  • A single seizure due to an obvious trigger (such as fever or a drug) is treated by eliminating or avoiding that trigger.
  • A new seizure without an obvious trigger will require further testing and possible treatment.
  • A seizure in a person with known epilepsy will require tests to make sure the patient is taking the correct dose of their medicines. A possible change in medicines may be needed.

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Review Date: 03/21/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)