Seizures
Framing
- Seizure classification rests on two axes - onset (focal vs generalised) and semiology (tonic-clonic, absence, myoclonic) - which together determine anti-seizure medication choice, since some agents effective for generalised epilepsy can worsen certain focal or myoclonic seizure types
- Status epilepticus (continuous or repeated seizure activity without recovery, conventionally beyond 5 minutes) is a time-critical medical emergency regardless of seizure type, with a stepwise escalation protocol (benzodiazepine, then second-line anti-seizure medication, then anaesthesia) applied uniformly across the underlying seizure classification
- Age-specific seizure patterns (febrile seizures in young children) have a distinct, generally reassuring natural history compared with afebrile seizures at the same age, which carry a higher likelihood of representing epilepsy
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