Seizure (cont.)
When Are Seizures Not Epilepsy?
While any seizure is cause for concern, having a seizure does not by itself
mean a person has epilepsy. First seizures, febrile seizures, nonepileptic
events, and eclampsia are examples of seizures that may not be associated with
epilepsy.
First Seizures
Many people have a single seizure at some point in their lives. Often these
seizures occur in reaction to anesthesia or a strong drug, but they also may be
unprovoked, meaning that they occur without any obvious triggering factor.
Unless the person has suffered brain damage or there is a family history of
epilepsy or other neurological abnormalities, these single seizures usually are
not followed by additional seizures. One recent study that followed patients for
an average of 8 years found that only 33 percent of people have a second seizure
within 4 years after an initial seizure. People who did not have a second
seizure within that time remained seizure-free for the rest of the study. For
people who did have a second seizure, the risk of a third seizure was about 73
percent on average by the end of 4 years.
When someone has experienced a first seizure, the doctor will usually order
an electroencephalogram, or EEG, to determine what type of seizure the person
may have had and if there are any detectable abnormalities in the person's brain
waves. The doctor also may order brain scans to identify abnormalities that may
be visible in the brain. These tests may help the doctor decide whether or not
to treat the person with antiepileptic drugs. In some cases, drug treatment
after the first seizure may help prevent future seizures and epilepsy. However,
the drugs also can cause detrimental side effects, so doctors prescribe them
only when they feel the benefits outweigh the risks. Evidence suggests that it
may be beneficial to begin anticonvulsant medication once a person has had a
second seizure, as the chance of future seizures increases significantly after
this occurs.
Next: Febrile Seizures »
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