Diagnosis of Epilepsy
- Your past medical history
- Family medical history
- Any and all medications you take
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Seizure patterns:
- How were you feeling before the seizure?
- How old were you at the onset of the condition?
- Was there any warning?
- What did the seizure look like, or what were you told it looked like?
- Were there any symptoms after the seizure?
- How long did the seizure last?
- How many seizures have you had before?
- After the seizure, did paralysis, twitches, confusion, slowed responsiveness, urine incontinence, or tongue biting occur?
| Placement of Sensors for an EEG |
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You may need to have your brain activity tested. This can be done with:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) —Best results are achieved when this test is performed within 24 hours of a seizure. Many times repetitive or continuous EEG monitoring may be needed.
- Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
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You may need to have brain scans. These can be done with:
- CT scan and MRI scan
- PET scans
- Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan
- Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
- Angiography
- Echoencephalogram —This test is most often used in infants.
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You may need to have your blood tested. Blood tests check for possible causes of the seizures, including:
- Metabolic disorders, such as abnormal blood levels of sugar, calcium, sodium, potassium, or magnesium
- Genetic disorders
- Infections, such as encephalitis , meningitis , or HIV
- Lead poisoning
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You may need to have your bodily fluids tested. This can be done with urine tests.
- Urine tests
- Lumbar puncture , also known as a spinal tap
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You may need to have your motor abilities, behavior and intellectual capacity tested. This can be done with:
- Developmental tests
- Neurological tests
- Behavioral tests
References
Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 2000.
Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated February 18, 2013. Accessed February 22, 2013.
Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated November 19, 2012. Accessed February 22, 2013.
NINDS Epilepsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/epilepsy.htm . Updated February 21, 2013. Accessed February 22, 2013.
What is epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/whatisepilepsy/index.cfm . Accessed February 22, 2013.
