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Seizures following an Acquired Brain Injury - Headway

Seizures following an Acquired Brain Injury - Headway

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Diagnosing <strong>Seizures</strong> <strong>an</strong>d Epilepsy<br />

To confirm that a person is having seizure<br />

activity, the doctor will need to conduct a<br />

number of tests.<br />

A blood test will check the general health of a<br />

person <strong>an</strong>d exclude <strong>an</strong>y subst<strong>an</strong>ces such as<br />

drugs that may cause a seizure; a brain sc<strong>an</strong><br />

will reveal <strong>an</strong>y structural cause for the seizure<br />

<strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong> Electroencephalogram (EEG)<br />

measures the electrical activity of the brain<br />

surface.<br />

Seizure Treatment<br />

The main treatment for seizures is<br />

<strong>an</strong>ticonvuls<strong>an</strong>t medication which acts to<br />

prevent the spread of abnormal electrical<br />

activity from one nerve cell to <strong>an</strong>other. There<br />

are a number of different drugs on the market,<br />

but the key is finding the one that is right for<br />

you.<br />

When starting a course of medication it may<br />

take several days for the drug level to build up<br />

to a level in the bloodstream at which it<br />

becomes effective. In order for <strong>an</strong>ticonvuls<strong>an</strong>ts<br />

to work the prescribed dose needs to be taken<br />

consistently according to your doctor’s<br />

instruction <strong>an</strong>d blood tests will be taken at<br />

regular intervals to check the drug level in the<br />

bloodstream.<br />

What to do when a person has a seizure<br />

• Stay calm – if you p<strong>an</strong>ic the person may<br />

become agitated<br />

• Make sure <strong>an</strong>y tight clothing around the<br />

neck is loosened, including necklaces<br />

• Move d<strong>an</strong>gerous objects away from the<br />

person<br />

• Check that nothing is obstructing their<br />

breathing<br />

• Put something soft under the person’s<br />

head to prevent injury.<br />

• Following the convulsion, turn the person<br />

onto their left side <strong>an</strong>d into the recovery<br />

position.<br />

• Call <strong>an</strong> ambul<strong>an</strong>ce if the convulsion lasts<br />

longer th<strong>an</strong> five minutes, if the person is<br />

having repeated convulsions, is hurt or the<br />

seizure is different in <strong>an</strong>y way.<br />

• Remain with them until they have fully<br />

recovered.<br />

• Using a gentle <strong>an</strong>d reassuring voice repeat<br />

instructions to the individual until you are<br />

certain that they have understood.<br />

• If the person suddenly moves away,<br />

accomp<strong>an</strong>y them until they respond – if the<br />

person w<strong>an</strong>ders gently guide them<br />

• Do not place <strong>an</strong>ything in the person’s<br />

mouth.<br />

• Do not restrict <strong>an</strong>y convulsive movements<br />

as you may hurt the person or yourself.<br />

• Do not try to rouse the person.<br />

• Do not restrain the person unless there is<br />

immediate physical d<strong>an</strong>ger e.g. fire, water<br />

or traffic.<br />

• Do not move the person unless s/he is in a<br />

d<strong>an</strong>gerous place e.g. in the road or at the<br />

top of a stairs<br />

• Do not add to the person’s distress by<br />

saying “what a fright you gave us” etc<br />

• Do not give the person <strong>an</strong>ything to drink<br />

until you are sure that they are fully awake.<br />

Copyright <strong>Headway</strong> Irel<strong>an</strong>d, 2007. This is one of a r<strong>an</strong>ge of factsheets made available by <strong>Headway</strong>. We have taken great care to ensure all information is accurate but these factsheets are only<br />

intended as a guide <strong>an</strong>d recommend that medical or professional support should be sought. <strong>Headway</strong> will not be held responsible for <strong>an</strong>y injuries or damages that arise from <strong>following</strong> the<br />

information provided in these factsheets.<br />

Information <strong>an</strong>d Support Helpline<br />

1890 200 278<br />

Mon-Fri (9am to 5pm)

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