Epilepsy is a chronic, non-communicable brain disease that is manifested by a permanent tendency to present seizures, which are the clinical manifestation of brief disturbances in the electrical function of the brain. Worldwide, around 50 million people suffer from epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological disorders, according to the World Health Organization. On this occasion, Dr. Walter De la Cruz, neurologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma and Coordinator of the Epilepsy Unit of our institution, gives us some recommendations on how to act in the event of an epileptic seizure and thus be able to help the person who is suffering from it.

What to do in the event of an epileptic seizure:

• Remain calm
• Position the patient on their side so that they have a clear airway
• Take his/her head and prevent him/her from getting hurt
• Move away objects and people around him/her
• Wait for the crisis to end and check that the person is breathing well
• Guide the patient after the crisis, it is normal for them to be confused

What not to do in the event of an epileptic seizure:

• Get scared.
• Support the patient to prevent movement.
• Insert objects or their hands into the patient’s mouth.
• Attempting to unroll the patient’s tongue.
• Shake him/her or make him/her react.
• Give fluids.
• Apply substances or alcohol to revive him/her.

When to go to a health facility

Most of the time it is not necessary to see a specialist after an epileptic seizure. However, it is recommended to do so when the following situations occur:

• If it’s the first episode
• If one crisis is repeated after another
• If the crisis lasts more than 5 minutes
• If you are pregnant
• If you were injured during the crisis
• If you do not regain consciousness 30 minutes after the seizure ends

Dr. Walter De la Cruz
Neurologist and Coordinator of the Epilepsy Unit of Clínica Ricardo Palma