Seizures
Alternate Names : Convulsions
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting a seizure in detail may include: - Location
- Did it occur on one side only (unilateral)?
- Did it affect only a part of the body?
- Quality
- Was it a major movement (convulsion) seizure?
- Did it have a known cause (such as known epilepsy or a recent head injury)?
- Was consciousness maintained during the seizure?
- Was it a rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the face, arm, or leg muscles?
- Was it a petit mal seizure (staring episode or similar activity)?
- Were there prolonged muscle contractions only?
- Was there a period of prolonged muscle contraction AND a period of muscle contraction alternating with relaxation?
- Time pattern
- How long did the seizure last (how many seconds)?
- Is this the first time the person has had this type of a seizure?
- Have they ever had a seizure that lasted longer than 2 or 3 minutes?
- Have they ever had a seizure that involved large muscle movements (convulsion)?
- Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Did the seizure occur with some memory loss (partial amnesia) about the seizure?
- Did the seizure occur with re-experience of emotions (recalled emotion)?
- Did the seizure occur with lip smacking?
- Did the seizure occur with cheek or tongue biting?
- Did the seizure occur with impairment of taste (dysgeusia)?
- Did the seizure occur with loss of smell (anosmia)?
- Did the seizure occur with nausea or vomiting?
- Did the seizure occur after an episode of hyperventilation (rapid breathing)?
The physical examination may include a neurological examination. The occurrence, nature, and duration of the seizures will be assessed.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: Intervention:
Medications are often prescribed. Strict compliance with drug therapy, if appropriate, will be emphasized. Depending on the cause, surgery may be recommended.
Family members should be asked to observe and record seizure activity to ensure proper treatment. People with uncontrolled seizures should not drive. Each state has a different law with respect to amount of time a person has to be seizure free before resumption of driving. People with seizures should also not swim or bike alone.
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to seizures to your personal medical record.
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