Seizures
What is it?
Seizures can be defined as episodic neurologic dysfunction caused by abnormal neuronal activity and have behavioural, sensory, motor, and autonomic clinical manifestations.There are various types of seizures underscoring the broad range of clinical presentations.
Diagnosis
First, is this a seizure or not?
Reliable witness
Movements described
Incontinence
Post ictal confusion.
For tonic clonic seizures, injury patterns:
Tongue biting
Knee abrasions
Head injuries.
Status epilepticus (SE) is defined as any seizure type (simple to complex) with continuous seizure activity or a series of seizures without a return to full consciousness, usually for >5-10 minutes.
Identifying and understanding the various type of seizures often guides clinical management. Management of seizures in the ED has three components:
Terminating the seizure
Managing the post ictal state and associated sequellae, and
Preventing further seizures.
For more information on types, effects, investigations, treatment and medication for seizures click on the links below.
Further References and Resources
ECI Patient Factsheet - Your first seizure (Adult)
For children with epilepsy - click here to visit the Paediatric Epilepsy Network NSW site
For all consumer epilepsy information- Epilepsy Action Australia