General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Call 15 or 112 in France if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, repeats without a return to normal between episodes, or the person remains unconscious for more than ten minutes. Put nothing in their mouth.
One isolated seizure does not always mean an epileptic disorder. A metabolic disturbance, poisoning or certain medicines can cause a single convulsion. The doctor investigates the circumstances and other possible explanations.
An electroencephalogram, or EEG, records the brain’s electrical signals through electrodes on the scalp. It helps clarify the type of epilepsy and the location of a possible focus as part of specialist assessment.
An EEG can remain normal in someone with epilepsy. Abnormalities can also be related to other conditions. The specialist therefore considers the recording alongside the event history and examination, rather than drawing a conclusion from the recording alone.
Prepare a precise description of what happened and the circumstances, together with the treatments usually taken. Witnesses can add to the account. This information helps the doctor distinguish between different causes of an episode.
If suspicion remains strong despite a normal EEG, a longer recording may be requested. A sleep EEG is useful for some types of seizures. Ask the team to clarify the arrangements and note your questions for follow-up.
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