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Status epilepticus

Status epilepticus is a prolonged seizure that can cause brain damage and sometimes death. Head injury, drug overdose or withdrawal, stroke, brain tumor, infection, or seizure disorders are common causes of status epilepticus.

It occurs when:

  • A seizure lasts more than 30 minutes.
  • Two or more seizures occur in rapid succession (one right after the other) during a 30-minute period and the person does not fully regain consciousness. (These seizures may look like one long seizure.)
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Last Revised October 15, 2009

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 15, 2009
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