Seizures following an Acquired Brain Injury - Headway
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 />
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