Status Epilepticus
A Status Epilepticus (SE) is a prolonged seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple seizures without full recovery in between. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent long-term neurological damage or death. SE can be convulsive or non-convulsive, with the former involving violent muscle contractions and the latter being less obvious, often characterized by altered consciousness or behavior.
Risk factors
SE can happen to anyone but it is more likely to happen with:
- Males
- Children
- Elderly
- People with a history of epilepsy or Seizures
Treatments
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Image of diazepam rectal gel
Treatment for SE typically involves:
- Benzodiazepines: Medications like lorazepam or diazepam are often used as first-line treatments.
- Phenytoin or Fosphenytoin: These are used to stabilize the electrical activity in the brain and were used as the first line of treatment in the past.