“Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain in which a person has a sustained tendency to have seizures on a recurrent or repetitive basis. These seizures are the clinical manifestation of a sudden burst of abnormal and excessive electrical activity in the brain, resulting in a temporary disruption of its normal functioning.”, explains Dr. Walter De la Cruz, neurologist – epileptologist and Coordinator of the Epilepsy Unit of our clinic, who in the framework of the International Epilepsy Day gives us valuable information about this neurological condition.

What signs and symptoms does a person experience during an epileptic seizure?

• Symptoms can range from unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness, automatic behaviors, falling to the floor and sudden, brief, transient tremors, to abnormal sensory experiences.
• Not all seizures involve muscle twitching, and it is important to note that not all people who experience seizures have epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed when seizures occur spontaneously, unprovoked, and is confirmed by the presence of at least two unprovoked episodes or one with a high risk of recurrence.

How to provide first aid to a person during an epileptic seizure?

• Stay with the person and take the duration of the crisis. Remain calm and check for medical alert identification.
• Keep the person safe. Keep the person away from dangerous objects.
• Lay the patient on his or her side if he or she is not awake or conscious. Do not obstruct the airway, place something small and soft under the head, loosen any clothing around the neck.
• Do not put anything in the mouth or hold the patient. Do not give water, food or pills until he or she wakes up.
• Stay with the person until he or she is awake and alert after the seizure. Most seizures are over in a few minutes.

It will be necessary to take the patient to the Emergency Room in the following cases:

• When the epileptic seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
• If the patient has seizures one after the other.
• When there is difficulty in breathing
• If the seizures occur in water.
• When the person is injured, pregnant or ill.
• If the patient does not return to his or her usual condition.
• If it is the first seizure.

Dr. Walter De la Cruz
Nneurologist – epileptologist and Coordinator of the Epilepsy Unit at Clínica Ricardo Pama