| | | | | the patient, to prevent further injury. |
| Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is | | | | |
| characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is | | | | You should place something soft beneath the head, |
| usually controlled; surgery is considered in difficult | | | | so as to prevent possible head injury. You must also |
| cases but it cannot be cured with medication. There | | | | carefully roll the person into the recovery position |
| are many types of epileptic syndromes but they are | | | | (the mouth is downward so that the vomit or blood |
| not lifelong; some are confined to particular stages of | | | | can actually drain from the patient, the chin is well up |
| childhood. | | | | so as to keep the epiglottis opened. The arms and |
| | | | | legs are locked as to stabilize the position of the |
| Witnessing an epileptic seizure is frightening especially | | | | patient) to avoid possible asphyxiation. |
| if you have no idea what it is about. But you ought | | | | |
| to know that epilepsy is treated with medication that | | | | Look for an identity card or if there is an epilepsy |
| is prescribed by a physician, primary caregivers, | | | | identity card. Most people who have epileptic seizures |
| neurologists and neurosurgeons. There are some | | | | have medical record or previous seizure history and |
| cases where the implantation of a stimulator of the | | | | are give identity cards to know who to call in case of |
| vagus nerve or a special diet can be helpful to a | | | | an epileptic seizure. |
| person who experiences an epileptic seizure. The | | | | |
| neurosurgical operations for epilepsy are usually | | | | At the first sign of a seizure, before performing any |
| palliative, but it does not cure the syndrome totally. It | | | | intervention get someone to call for 911 or |
| can help in reducing the frequency or the severity of | | | | professional medical help. You should never place any |
| the seizures. But for some lucky patients, an | | | | object in the person's mouth as this could result to |
| operation can be curative. | | | | serious injury. After experiencing an epileptic |
| | | | | seizure, aid the person's breathing. The person may |
| When you are faced with an epileptic seizure, you | | | | be disoriented and unaware of his or her surroundings |
| must not panic. The first thing you should think of, is | | | | at this time, and you should stay with the person |
| to protect the person having a seizure from any | | | | until complete recovery, reassuring and comforting |
| form of injury. Jerking movement can cause bumps | | | | him or her all at the same time until medical personnel |
| and injuries from the surroundings. You should be | | | | arrives. |
| alert for any sharp objects that are near or within | | | | |