Epilepsy Health Center

Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Breathing stops for longer than 30 seconds. After calling or other emergency services, see the topic Dealing With Emergencies.
• The seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes.
• Signs of a serious illness are present, such as:
  • •Fever or shaking chills.
  • •Severe headache with stiff neck, confusion, or irritability.
  • •Very rapid, difficult breathing.
  • •New, tiny purple or red spots (petechiae) on the skin or in the mouth.
  • •Sudden increase in the number of bruises and how severe they are (purpura).
• More than one seizure occurs within 24 hours, even in a person who has a history of epilepsy.
• The person is still not responding normally 1 hour after the seizure and is:
  • •Not fully awake.
  • •Confused.
  • •Sick to his or her stomach (nauseated) or vomiting.
  • •Dizzy.
  • •Unable to stand or walk.
• A seizure occurs after a sudden, severe headache.
• A seizure occurs with symptoms of a stroke. Symptoms of a stroke include:
  • •Inability to move (paralysis) a part or all of one side of the body (such as the face, arm, or leg) or persistent numbness.
  • •Loss of vision in one or both eyes.
  • •Confusion or altered behavior, such as unusually aggressive or combative behavior.
  • •Inability to speak, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
  • •Severe dizziness (vertigo) and vomiting.
• A seizure occurs after a head injury.
• A pregnant woman has a seizure.
• A person with diabetes has a seizure.
• A seizure occurs after eating or breathing poison.
• A seizure occurs after using an illegal drug.
• A seizure occurs after drinking a large amount of alcohol (alcohol poisoning).