patient report for seizure

The patient may be able to report a warning or aura and the feeling after the seizure. The presence of an aura, by definition, makes the diagnosis of a localization-related epilepsy

, because auras are “simple partial” seizures with subjective symptoms. However, not every warning symptom is an aura.

Full Answer

How to document seizure activity?

• Pathophysiology of seizures
• Assessment, diagnosis and classification of seizures
• Evidence based management of seizure activity
• Understanding of the rationale for anti-convulsant drug therapy

How to write a seizure?

Your plan should tell people:

• What your seizures look like, including signs that one is about to start
• What may trigger them
• How you want to be helped during a seizure
• What steps to take to keep you safe
• Whether your doctor has prescribed rescue medicines, and where to find information about them
• Emergency steps people should take

How do you deal with seizures?

What to do when someone has a seizure

• Protect them from injury (remove harmful objects from nearby)
• Cushion their head
• Look for an epilepsy identity card or identity jewellery – it may give you information about their seizures and what to do
• Time how long the seizure lasts
• Aid breathing by gently placing them in the recovery position once the jerking has stopped (see picture)

More items...

What happens during a seizure?

During a seizure, many things may happen. Sufferers may lose the ability to swallow, have difficulty speaking, experience twitching or jerking movements in the body, and even experience convulsions. They may lose consciousness, see flashing lights, experience visual hallucinations, and feel out of body sensations.

How do you write a seizure report?

If known, when the seizure started, was the person awake or asleep? Was the person restless or did they cry out before the seizure started? Was there any trigger for the seizure (such as feeling tired or stressed)? What position were they in when the seizure happened or when they were found?

What should be documented when a patient has a seizure?

Documentation of initial medical history and physical should include the date of seizure onset, type and frequency of seizures, description of typical seizures, previous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used, and the date of the last seizure.

What assessment you do when a patient is having a seizure?

Assess your patient for signs and symptoms of seizure activity, such as his report of an aura or twitching of muscle groups, especially in his face or hands. Have an oral airway, oxygen, and suction readily available. Keep his bed in a low position with the side rails up. Consider padding them.

What questions do you ask a seizure patient?

What will the doctor ask?Did you experience lack of sleep or unusual stress?Were you sick recently?Did you take any kind of medication, including over-the-counter medicines, alcohol, or illegal drugs?More items...

How do you describe seizure activity?

Seizures symptoms vary and can include a sudden change in awareness or full loss of consciousness, unusual sensations or thoughts, involuntary twitching or stiffness in the body or severe stiffening and limb shaking with loss of consciousness (a convulsion.)

Where would you record information about a clients seizure?

A seizure diary is a good way of recording information about your epilepsy.

How do nurses describe seizures?

A seizure is an abnormal, unregulated electrical discharge that occurs within the brain's cortical gray matter and transiently interrupts normal brain function; a seizure typically causes altered awareness, abnormal sensations, focal involuntary movements, or convulsions (widespread violent involuntary contraction of ...

What should a nurse do when a patient has a seizure?

The priorities when caring for a patient who is seizing are to maintain a patent airway, protect the patient from injury, provide care during and following the seizure and documenting the event in the health record.

What is epilepsy assessment?

Your doctor may test your behavior, motor abilities, mental function and other areas to diagnose your condition and determine the type of epilepsy you may have. Blood tests. Your doctor may take a blood sample to check for signs of infections, genetic conditions or other conditions that may be associated with seizures.

What information is important to obtain when taking the history of a patient with seizures?

The following information should be obtained in the history: Record the patient's age. If a family history of seizures is noted, determine the clinical epilepsy syndrome of the affected family member. Ask about a history of any previous provoked seizure.

How do you manage seizures?

First AidKeep other people out of the way.Clear hard or sharp objects away from the person.Don't try to hold them down or stop the movements.Place them on their side, to help keep their airway clear.Look at your watch at the start of the seizure, to time its length.Don't put anything in their mouth.

How are seizures diagnosed?

An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, doctors attach electrodes to your scalp with a paste-like substance. The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain, which shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may reveal a pattern that tells doctors whether a seizure is likely to occur again.

What is EEG brain activity?

EEG brain activity. An EEG records the electrical activity of your brain via electrodes affixed to your scalp. EEG results show changes in brain activity that may be useful in diagnosing brain conditions, especially epilepsy and other seizure disorders. High-density EEG. Open pop-up dialog box.

What does EEG show?

The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain, which shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may reveal a pattern that tells doctors whether a seizure is likely to occur again. EEG testing may also help your doctor exclude other conditions that mimic epilepsy as a reason for your seizure.

How to control seizures?

Dietary therapy. Following a diet that's high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, known as a ketogenic diet, can improve seizure control. The ketogenic diet is very strict and can be challenging to follow, as there is a limited range of foods allowed.

What is the best medication for seizures?

Treatment for seizures often involves the use of anti-seizure medications. There are many different options for anti-seizure medication. One of the more recent medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, cannabidiol (Epidiolex), is derived from marijuana. It's approved to treat certain seizures in children age 2 and older.

What to do if you witness someone having a seizure?

If you're at risk of having seizures in the future, pass this information along to family, friends and co-workers so that they know what to do if you have a seizure.

What to do after a seizure?

After a seizure, your doctor will thoroughly review your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor may order several tests to determine the cause of your seizure and evaluate how likely it is that you'll have another one. Tests may include: A neurological exam.

What is the purpose of a CT scan?

Computerized tomography (CT). A CT scan uses X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of your brain. CT scans can reveal abnormalities in your brain that might cause a seizure, such as tumors, bleeding and cysts. Positron emission tomography (PET).

How long does a seizure last?

This is also called petit mal seizure. This seizure causes a brief changed state of consciousness and staring. You will likely maintain your posture. Your mouth or face may twitch or your eyes may blink rapidly. The seizure usually lasts no longer than 30 seconds. When the seizure is over, you may not recall what just occurred. You may go on with your activities as though nothing happened. These seizures may occur several times a day.

What causes a seizure in the brain?

A seizure occurs when one or more parts of the brain has a burst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal brain signals. Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion.

What is focal seizure?

Focal (partial) seizures. Focal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. Before a focal seizure, you may have an aura, or signs that a seizure is about to occur. This is more common with a complex focal seizure. The most common aura involves feelings, such as deja vu, ...

What is it called when you have 2 seizures?

But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy . There are different types of seizures. The type of seizure depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected and what happens during the seizure.

What is the most common disorder of the nervous system?

Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes a person to have seizures. It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. It affects people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. The brain consists of nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical activity. A seizure occurs when one or more parts ...

How often do seizures occur?

These seizures tend to occur in clusters. This means that they may occur several times a day, or for several days in a row .

What are the phases of a grand mal seizure?

The classic form of this kind of seizure has 5 distinct phases. Your body, arms, and legs will flex (contract), extend (straighten out), and tremor (shake). This is followed by contraction and relaxation of the muscles (clonic period) and the postictal period.

What to record about a seizure

Everyone is individual and people react in different ways to their seizures and in how they recover. Some people cannot remember what happened to them during a seizure, some like to be talked to during their seizures and as they recover, and some need to sleep afterwards.

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What happens if you have a seizure in water?

The person has another seizure soon after the first one. The person is hurt during the seizure. The seizure happens in water. The person has a health condition like diabetes, heart disease, or is pregnant.

How many people have a seizure in their lifetime?

Learn what you can do to keep that person safe until the seizure stops by itself. About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime.

How long does it take for a seizure to end?

Most seizures end in a few minutes. These are general steps to help someone who is having any type seizure: Stay with the person until the seizure ends and he or she is fully awake. After it ends, help the person sit in a safe place.

How to stop a seizure from hurting?

This can prevent injury. Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head. Remove eyeglasses. Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make it hard to breathe. Time the seizure.

What to do if you have a seizure?

Knowing what NOT to do is important for keeping a person safe during or after a seizure. Never do any of the following things. Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements. Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

What is the name of the seizure that causes a person to cry out?

First aid for generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. When most people think of a seizure, they think of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, also called a grand mal seizure. In this type of seizure, the person may cry out, fall, shake or jerk, and become unaware of what’s going on around them.

Can you swallow your tongue after a seizure?

This can injure teeth or the jaw. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his or her tongue. Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (like CPR). People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure.

What are the expected outcomes of a seizure nursing care plan?

Below are the common expected outcomes for seizure nursing care plan: Patient will verbalize understanding of factors that contribute to the possibility of trauma and or suffocation and take steps to correct the situation. Patient will identify actions or measures to take when seizure activity occurs.

What happens if you restrain a patient during a seizure?

Note: If the attempt is made to restrain the patient during a seizure, erratic movements may increase, and the patient may injure self or others. Note pre-seizure activity, presence of aura or unusual behavior, type of seizure activity (location or duration of motor activity, and frequency or recurrence.

What is the cause of a seizure?

Seizures can be caused by head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, maldevelopment of the brain, genetic and infectious illnesses, and fevers. Sensory symptoms arise from the parietal lobe; motor symptoms arise from the frontal lobe.

What is a seizure in the brain?

Seizures are physical findings or changes in behavior caused by uncontrolled electrical firing or discharges from the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex and are characterized by sudden, brief attacks of altered consciousness, motor activity and sensory phenomena.

What are the signs of toxicology in nursing?

The nurse should monitor the patient for signs of toxicity: nystagmus, ataxia, lethargy, dizziness, slurred speech, nausea, and vomiting. It is also the duty of the nurse to provide support to the family and answering questions and correcting misconceptions that surround it.

Can Diastat be used alone?

May be used alone (or in combination with phenobarbital) to suppress status seizure activity. Diastat, a gel, may be administered rectally, even in the home setting, to reduce the frequency of seizures and need for additional medical care. Glucose, thiamine.

Who is Matt Vera?

Matt Vera, BSN, R.N. Matt Vera is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing since 2009 and is currently working as a full-time writer and editor for Nurseslabs. During his time as a student, he knows how frustrating it is to cram on difficult nursing topics. Finding help online is nearly impossible.

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