Keeping a record of seizures is important. Few doctors ever see their patients with epilepsy having a seizure and they rely heavily on the account of an observer – a relative, colleague, worker, teachers, instructor, in making a diagnosis. There are many different types of seizures, and a precise diagnosis is easier to make if a clear description of the seizures is available.
In addition, after diagnosis the doctor will welcome an on–going record of seizures detailing the frequency of seizures and any changes that may occur in the pattern of the seizures or in the seizure type. Such information will help the doctor in prescribing appropriate treatment.
If you are caring for a person who has epilepsy you will need to know what to look for. You may miss important details if you do not understand their relevance. Parents may soon grow to recognise the features of epilepsy in their child. Others, such as care staff may look after a number of people with epilepsy who are all affected differently. To ensure consistency of information in such instances it may be advisable to develop a standard form of recording seizures.
The following questions should help you in gathering the information the doctor needs.
| 1. | What
was the date of the seizure? |
| 2. | What
was the exact time of day? |
| 3. | What
was the person doing at the time? |
| 4. | Had
the person just fallen asleep, or woken up? |
| 5. | What
called your attention to the seizure (a cry, fall, stare,
head turn)? |
| 6. | Did
the seizure progress slowly or quickly? |
| 7. | How
long did each stage of the seizure last? |
| 8. | What
parts of the body were affected? |
| 9. | Was
one side affected more than the other? |
| 10. | Did
the body become stiff? |
| 11. | Did
it jerk, twitch, or go into convulsions? |
| 12. | Was
the person unconscious? |
| 13. | If
no, was there any alteration in awareness? |
| 14. | Did
the skin show changes (flushed, clammy, signs of blueness)? |
| 15. | Did
the breathing change? |
| 16. | Did
the person talk or perform any actions during the seizure? |
| 17. | Was
the person incontinent of bladder or bowel? |
| 18. | Did
the person vomit during the seizure? |
| 19. | Did
any injuries result from the seizure? |
| 20. | How
did the person behave after the seizure (alert, drowsy,
confused)? |
| 21. | After
recovery did the person remember any unusual sensations
before or at the onset of the seizure? |
| 22. | How
long did the person take to recover completely? |
| 23. | If
the person takes medication, when was the last dose before
the seizure? |
| 24. | Anything else associated with the seizure you think the doctor should know? |
If you can answer all these questions you will provide a very full picture of the person’s epilepsy. A complete account such as this can be very useful at the onset of epilepsy or at times of change (eg. a change in medication, or a change in the pattern of seizures
Your doctor may give you a seizure record chart or you can print one by clicking here
Keeping a Seizure Record Chart
At all times the recording of information should be discreet, so that each seizure does not look more important than it is.
Original
courtesy of Epilepsy Association of Scotland
Revised April 2002
This information provided by the Epilepsy Association of South Australia and Northern Territory Inc on the Internet is designed to provide basic information about epilepsy. It is not intended, nor does it constitute medical or other professional advice. Diagnosis and advice on medical care or other assessments should be sought from a medical practitioner or suitably qualified professional.
