Single seizures generally do not cause damage or injury to the brain. However, a number of very serious and potentially life-threatening complications could occur if seizures last too long or occur repeatedly, one after the other without return of consciousness, a condition called status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus requires urgent medical treatment to lessen the chance of serious complications. The key is to get medical treatment started as quickly as possible in a medical setting able to provide oxygen and other support for breathing, along with intravenous fluids and emergency medications. At times, medicines called anesthetics are used in the hospital to put a person into a coma to stop the seizures. A variety of diagnostic tests may also be needed to find the cause of status epilepticus and treat this properly. People with a known cause, such as a brain infection, brain tumor or stroke, may have a worse outlook than those with no other medical problems or known cause.

Other serious consequences of seizures include bodily injuries and certain medical conditions. We don’t know exactly how often injuries occur after seizures since many aren’t reported or recorded as a seizure-related injury. Luckily, they don’t occur all the time and many people rarely hurt themselves during a seizure. However, it happens often enough for people to be aware of the risks and know what to do.

The most common types of injuries are cuts, bruises and burns, but more serious injuries can occur. For example, people can hit their head and suffer a concussion or a more serious head injury with bleeding into the brain. People can break bones when they fall or choke during or after a seizure. If a seizure occurs in the water, drowning can occur. Additionally, people who have other medical problems or are pregnant can develop other medical complications from a seizure.

Sometimes people don’t develop problems for hours to a few days after a seizure. For example, if food or liquid got into the lungs during a seizure, a fever and symptoms of pneumonia may occur hours or up to a few days later, with fever, chest pain and difficulty breathing. Symptoms of a head injury may not be seen right away or they may be mistaken for aftereffects of a seizure.

These consequences of seizure emergencies are fortunately not too common, but are very serious for those who are affected. That's why you need to be prepared and know what to do to avoid seizure emergencies. You can use this knowledge to teach others what may happen and when to help as you develop your Seizure Plan.

• Consequences of Seizure Emergencies
• Safety

Continue to Recognizing When Emergencies Develop

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07