Frequently Asked Questions

• Will my child have a seizure again?
  •  75% of children will not have any further seizure activity.
• Could my child die from a seizure?
  • Death after a first-time, unprovoked seizure is very rare.
• Does brain damage occur?
  • Brief seizures do not cause brain damage.
  • Longer seizures lasting more than 30 minutes can cause changes in the brain. Therefore, it is very important to administer rescue medication for any seizure lasting over 5 minutes.
• What special precautions should we take with our child?
  • Children should not be left unattended in any amount of standing water (bathtub, swimming pool, etc.). Showers are okay if an adult knows the child is in the shower and the door is not locked. A trusted adult should directly supervise the child in swimming pools, not just the lifeguard. 
  • Children may participate in athletics as long as they wear a helmet when appropriate for a given sport, like any other child. 
  • Children should wear helmets when operating wheeled devices (tricycles, bicycles, scooters, roller skates, skateboards, etc.).
  • Children should be supervised at heights (monkey bars, swings, jungle gym, horseback riding, etc.)
  • Older children/adolescents should not cook over an open flame/stove top for risk of injury. Microwave use is okay. 
  • According to Kansas and Missouri law, driving-age adolescents may not operate a vehicle for six months after seizure. These laws vary by state. Adolescents may resume driving after achieving six months of seizure freedom. 
  • Caution in operation of any motorized vehicle or heavy machinery (e.g., motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle [ATV], tractor, lawnmower, chainsaw) is recommended.
• What can we do to reduce our child's risk of further seizures?
  • Do not let your child drink alcohol.
  • Do not let your child use drugs.
  • Ensure your child gets plenty of rest/good sleep.

Provider Education Video

Conversations about new seizures can be challenging. This 5-minute video demonstrates effective communication with families.

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.