Seizures

What is a Seizure?

Seizures are sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain which cause nerves to fire erratically—leading to changes in behaviors, movements, and feelings. Signs of a seizure can sometimes be subtle, and symptoms will depend on the type of seizure suffered.

At Bayhealth Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Total Care, we provide 24/7 emergency care for seizures. Our cutting-edge facility is equipped with the latest diagnostic equipment to assist in diagnosing the nature and severity of your seizure. We employ a network of physicians, specialists, nurses, technologists, and support staff for truly comprehensive seizure care in Milton and throughout South Delaware.

Major Types of Seizures

The two major types of seizures are classified into two groups: generalized and focal.

The most common seizure types include:

• Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain and can be further broken down into petit mal and grand mal. Petit mal seizures might cause rapid, uncontrollable blinking or staring into space for a period of time. Grand mal seizures—also known as tonic-clonic seizures—can lead to muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, falls, and crying out. Often, a person may feel tired post-seizure.

• Focal seizures affect just one area of the brain and are sometimes referred to as partial seizures. These can sometimes last as long as a few minutes and are further classified into three types, simple focal, complex focal, and secondary generalized. Symptoms of these seizures range from twitching and experiencing strange smells or tastes to an inability to respond to questions and all of the symptoms exhibited in generalized seizures.

Epilepsy is a diagnosis for those who have experienced two or more seizures and is a brain disorder that is typically treated with medication, specialized diets, or surgery.

Seizure Treatment & Care in Delaware

When you visit our emergency and urgent care facility, our physician will prescribe a series of tests and imaging scans, such as neurological exams, EEG, MRI, or CT scans. This can help us better understand the nature of your condition.

We might also administer antiseizure medication and monitor your status to help us determine if you exhibit signs of epilepsy. If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, our team will refer you to a neurologist, so you can receive follow-up care to manage your symptoms.

We recommend visiting our ER if:

• It is your first seizure
• The seizure lasts over five minutes
• You experience multiple seizures in a short period of time
• The seizure causes a loss of consciousness, injury, or difficulty breathing

While not all seizures are medical emergencies, they still require care, and our urgent care facility is here to help. However, if it is an emergency, call 911 or head to our ER as quickly as possible.