Virtual Medical Centre

Epileptic seizures (Epileptic fits, Status epilepticus)

• What is Epileptic seizures?
• Who gets Epileptic seizures?
• Predisposing Factors
• Progression
• Probable Outcomes
• How is Epileptic seizures Diagnosed?
• How is Epileptic seizures treated?
• Epileptic seizures References
• Drugs/Products Associated with Epileptic seizures

What is Epileptic seizures?

Status epilepticus is not a disease on itself. Rather, it is a clinical situation where there are recurrent seizure activities (fits) without periods of consciousness in between.

Traditionally, to define status epilepticus the duration of recurrent seizures should be at least 30 minutes.

This is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment.

Status epilepticus is a neurological clinical situation because of the recurrent seizures. It affects mainly the brain and also the organs innervated by the brain.

Who gets Epileptic seizures?

This is a common condition, with an annual incidence of approximately 100,000 - 200,000 annually in the US.

Predisposing Factors

Status epilepticus can happen across the age but is more common in people of a younger age and in the elderly. Being in the extremes of age is more likely to predispose someone to status epilepticus.

Otherwise, there is no gender and racial predilection for developing status epilepticus.

Other predisposing factors are dependent upon the potential triggers for status epilepticus, which is discussed in 'natural history'.

Progression

Patients coming in with status epilepticus may have potential triggers that start off the recurrent seizures. Known triggers include:

Stopping or not taking antiepileptic drugs

Withdrawal syndromes, mainly due to discontinuation of alcohol, tranquilisers, and recreational drugs

Sudden brain injury, such as infection, cancer, stroke, trauma, and bleeding

Hereditary conditions such as cerebral palsy

Blood biochemical substance derangements including low glucose, high urea, vitamin deficiency, liver diseases or electrolyte abnormalities

Drug overdose