March 26th is World Purple Day to raise awareness for epilepsy. This year, it takes on a special meaning in my family because my 9-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with benign Rolandic epilepsy, a form of childhood epilepsy. 

 

Seizures are scary, especially when they happen out of the blue without a simple explanation like a high fever or viral infection. In honor of today, here are a few things to know if someone you love has a seizure.

The following is advice for clonic/tonic or "grand mal" seizures which are what most people think of when they think of epilepsy. However, there are other kinds of seizures that are less dramatic that also fall under the epilepsy umbrella. 

• The most important thing to do if you see someone having a seizure is to gently roll them onto their side and DO NOT put anything in their mouths. They might bite their tongues, but that's ok. Putting something in their mouth could cause them to choke.
• After they're safely positioned, start timing the seizure. If it lasts more than 3 minutes, go ahead and make the call for an ambulance. 
• If you're in public and a stranger is having a seizure, check to see if they have any sort of epilepsy identification on them. Many people with epilepsy carry rescue medicine with them that can easily be administered by a bystander. These medications are used if the seizure continues past the 3-5 minute mark.
• If the seizure stops on its own within a few minutes, but it's a first-time seizure, you'll still need to take the person to the hospital to be evaluated for any acute conditions that might have triggered it. They'll specifically be looking for things like blood sugar issues or metabolic imbalances.

After your loved one has been stabilized, then the next phase starts. They'll likely be referred to a neurologist who will order a series of tests like an EEG to measure brain waves and an MRI to check for any structural issues. The EEG will likely be sleep deprived so be prepared for a long night and an early morning. 

With those tests complete, a doctor can make a determination about what form of epilepsy, if any, the patient might have. There are many types of epilepsy and they can have overlapping symptoms, so it's important that proper testing is done. Once testing determines what is going on, the doctor will create a treatment plan that might include daily medication plus rescue medicine to keep on hand and at school.

A good thing to know as a parent is that children outgrow many forms of childhood epilepsy. Also, it's important to know that having just one seizure does not automatically mean you even have epilepsy! Multiple doctors we saw told us "Everyone gets one free seizure before we jump to epilepsy unless testing proves otherwise."

Organizations like Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana offer support for patients and caregivers. Seizures are scary, but with the right information and proper treatment, they don't have to dictate your life.