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Diagnostic approach to suspected epileptic seizure
Diagnostic approach to suspected epileptic seizure
Mercè Falip
Unidad de Epilepsia, Servicio de Neurología; Grupo de Neurogenética, Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigación del Hospital de Bellvitge (IDIBELL). Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España
*Correspondence: Mercè Falip. Email: mfalip@bellvitgehospital.cat
Summary
Between 0.3 and 1% of emergency department visits are due to epileptic seizures or suspected epileptic seizures. It is the third most common reason for neurological emergency department visits after stroke and headache. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that presents with unprovoked seizures. There are various types of epileptic seizures, which are classified according to the presence or absence of motor manifestations and the presence or absence of altered consciousness. Several types of epileptic seizures can be confused with other pathologies, making a targeted history vital for correct diagnosis, and additional tests are also useful. Urgent seizures, including status epilepticus, cluster seizures, first-time seizures, and high-risk seizures, are seizures that require urgent attention and treatment given their potential risk of life-threatening consequences and permanent brain damage. Epileptic seizures are classified as provoked and unprovoked. The most common causes of provoked seizures are cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, infectious and immune-mediated encephalitis, toxins or drugs, and metabolic disorders. Unprovoked seizures increase the risk of developing epilepsy.
Keywords: Acute symptomatic seizure. Epilepsy. High-risk seizure. Status epilepticus. Unprovoked seizure. Urgent seizure.
