9th of February is International Epilepsy Day, a day to raise awareness—and to remember that, sometimes, every minute counts.
While many people living with epilepsy lead active lives, a seizure can occasionally last longer than usual, which may lead to a serious medical emergency called status epilepticus.
A prolonged convulsive seizure (PCS) lasting five minutes or more is unlikely to stop on its own and must be treated as a medical emergency.¹ Without rapid intervention, seizures may escalate to convulsive status epilepticus (CSE)—a life-threatening condition that can cause serious neurological and systemic complications.¹
As part of our ACT FAST, STOP SEIZURES, SAVE LIVES campaign, we are sharing key information to help communities understand the importance of rapid intervention in PCS. Knowledge is the first step towards safety and preparedness, and is key to breaking stigma.
Most seizures stop by themselves within a few minutes, however the longer a convulsive seizure continues:
- The less likely it is to stop without treatment
- The higher the risk of complications
Delays in treating PCS can lead to hospitalization or intensive care admission with a risk of injury to the brain. It may even be life-threatening. The early administration of rescue medication is key to stopping seizures before they escalate.²
Every patient diagnosed with epilepsy—especially those at risk of PCS—should have an individualized Seizure Action Plan (SAP) to ensure rapid and effective intervention.
Explore our informative videos and learn from Prof. Matthew Walker, Professor of Neurology at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and Tom Jensen, a person living with epilepsy who shares his real-life experience.
Find these videos and more resources about prolonged convulsive seizures here.
1. Pellock JM. Overview: definitions and classifications of seizure emergencies. J Child Neurol. 2007 May;22(5 Suppl):9S-13S. doi: 10.1177/0883073807303064. PMID: 17690082.
2. Marina GaĂnza-Lein, Iet al. Timing in the treatment of status epilepticus: From basics to the clinic, Seizure, Volume 68, 2019, Pages 22-30, ISSN 1059-1311