Get emergency help when needed
Seek emergency help for a first ongoing seizure, a seizure lasting five minutes or longer, repeated seizures without recovery, serious injury or breathing difficulty. Follow an existing individual emergency plan if one has been provided and you are trained to use it. A suspected first seizure that has ended still needs urgent medical assessment.
Keep the person safe during a convulsive seizure
Stay nearby, time the event and clear nearby hazards. Cushion the head and, when the jerking stops, help the person onto their side. Do not restrain movements, put anything in the mouth, or give food or drink before full recovery. These basic steps do not replace emergency assistance or an individual care plan.
What the clinician needs to understand
Describe what happened before, during and after the event; a witness account can help. Mention recent fever, illness, injury and medicines, and bring existing reports.
A seizure and a diagnosis of epilepsy are not interchangeable. Other conditions can resemble seizures, and possible causes need individual assessment. A particular movement, fall or unusual feeling is not enough to diagnose epilepsy from a website.
Why different assessments may be considered
The doctor starts with a history and examination. Depending on the event, assessment may include an EEG and other investigations selected for the clinical question; not everyone needs the same tests. EEG findings help inform the assessment but do not replace it.
Ask what the investigation could clarify and how it would affect care. Discuss previous results with the responsible specialist before arranging repeat tests.
Treatment and day-to-day planning
If epilepsy is diagnosed, treatment is selected according to the seizure type and individual circumstances. Do not start, stop or change prescribed antiseizure medicines without the treating clinician’s advice. Discuss a written plan for safety, ongoing symptoms and help during a seizure.
Families may need practical guidance for school, sleep and everyday activities. Share any change in the event pattern or concerns about treatment with the responsible team. Follow-up should address daily functioning as well as the episodes.
Before arranging a clinic appointment
For non-emergency enquiries, contact the clinic with the person’s age and concern to confirm suitability or whether another specialist is required. Bring the event history, reports and medication list. Booking does not replace urgent care after a new suspected seizure.
Common questions
Does one seizure mean a child has epilepsy?
Not necessarily. The clinician assesses the event, possible causes and the wider history before deciding whether epilepsy is the appropriate diagnosis.
Can I use the booking form during a seizure?
The form and WhatsApp destination are for appointment requests. Seek emergency medical help when a seizure is ongoing or emergency warning signs are present; do not wait for a booking response.
