Emergency Management

The average convulsive seizure in a child who has epilepsy is not a medical emergency. It usually resolves without problems. It does not require immediate medical attention unless:

• A child has a seizure and there is no known history of epilepsy. Some other medical problem might be causing the seizure and emergency treatment of that problem might be required.
• Consciousness does not return after the seizure ends.
• A second seizure begins shortly after the first one without regaining consciousness in between.
• The seizure shows no sign of ending after 5 minutes.

If a child hits his head with force, either during the seizure or just before it began, one or more of the following signs also call for immediate medical attention:

• Difficulty in rousing after twenty minutes.
• Vomiting.
• Complaints of difficulty with vision.
• Persistent headache after a short rest period.
• Unconsciousness with failure to respond.
• Dilation of the pupils of the eye, or if the pupils are unequal in size.

If a seizure occurs while swimming and there is any possibility that the child has ingested large amounts of water, he should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible even if he seems to be fully recovered.