Seizure Emergencies

Most seizures end on their own, last seconds or a few minutes, and do not cause lasting harm to the person. A seizure is considered an emergency when it threatens temporary or permanent harm to a person’s health. Just like there are different types of seizures, there are also different types of emergencies.

Seizure Clusters

Seizure clusters, also called acute repetitive seizures, may not be emergencies by themselves. But a cluster of seizures where each seizure gets longer or seizures occur close together could develop into an emergency. Each individual seizure may not be an emergency, but the situation can develop into a type of seizure emergency, called status epilepticus. By stopping the seizure cluster, you reduce the risk of an even more serious seizure emergency.

Status Epilepticus

Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that describes two different situations:

1. A whole body (generalized or convulsive) seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
2. Two or more seizures occur so close together that the person does not regain full consciousness between seizures. Both situations can be life-threatening.

Everyone should know how to recognize status epilepticus and when to call for emergency help.

Injuries or Illnesses

Most injuries are minor and can be treated at home. Serious injuries or other medical problems (such as breathing difficulties or heart rate problems) can occur during a seizure. A person may be confused immediately after a seizure. Sometimes, after repeated or prolonged seizures, a person may display aggressive behavior. This may continue for hours or even for a few days.