Approach to seizures and first seizure
Seizure or not, provoked or unprovoked, who has epilepsy after one seizure, when to start treatment, and the driving rules.
Tier 1Approach to a presentation
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Answer four questions in order: Was it a seizure? Was it provoked? Is this epilepsy? Does it need treatment?
- The history from a witness decides most cases. Get it by phone if needed.
- Provoked (acute symptomatic) seizures need the cause fixed, not antiseizure medication long term.
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Sources
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Neurology (seizures and epilepsy)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited
- Assessing Fitness to Drive (AP-G56), Seizures and epilepsyAU/NZAustroads and National Transport Commission, 2022
- Updated classification of epileptic seizures: position paper of the International League Against EpilepsyILAE (Epilepsia), 2025
- ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsyILAE (Epilepsia), 2014
- Epilepsies in children, young people and adults (NG217)NICE, 2022, updated 2025
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy