[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/warning-signs-of-epilepsy\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/warning-signs-of-epilepsy\/","headline":"What Are the Warning Signs of Epilepsy?","name":"What Are the Warning Signs of Epilepsy?","description":"Doctors usually diagnose epilepsy after 2 or more seizures without an explanation. Intense febrile seizures can be an early warning sign of epilepsy.","datePublished":"2021-12-02","dateModified":"2024-06-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1276385699.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1276385699.jpg","height":326,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/warning-signs-of-epilepsy\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Neurosurgery and Brain Health"],"wordCount":892,"articleBody":"While many people think of epilepsy as one syndrome, it is actually an umbrella term for a range of different seizure disorders. The signs and symptoms of epilepsy\u00a0can differ from person to person and are affected by the type of epilepsy.Are There Warning Signs of Epilepsy?Doctors usually don\u2019t make a diagnosis of epilepsy unless a person has had at least two \u201cunprovoked\u201d seizures that occur greater than 24 hours apart. Unprovoked seizures are those that don\u2019t have a clear cause. Clear causes may include a high fever, an acute brain injury or head trauma\u00a0within the last week, or alcohol or drug withdrawal.\u201cOur brains make electricity normally,\u201d\u00a0Christina Patterson, MD, director of Epilepsy Services, UPMC Children\u2019s Hospital of Pittsburgh,\u00a0tells WPXI. “That\u2019s how we do everything we do. That\u2019s how we talk, that\u2019s how we walk, and that\u2019s how we play.“When our brains make an unexpected, abnormal surge of electricity, that\u2019s actually a seizure. That abnormal surge of electricity can cause our bodies to do abnormal things \u2014 move in funny ways, feel funny things \u2014 and it can sometimes alter awareness.\u201dIf someone has experiences two or more seizures that are more than a day apart and unprovoked, they meet the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of epilepsy. Epilepsy can begin anytime, but most often starts in childhood or in older adulthood (above age 65).\u201cEpilepsy is when you have had or will have a risk for repeated, unpredictable seizures,\u201d Dr. Patterson says.Febrile seizures \u2014 or seizures that result from a high fever \u2014 are usually not a sign of epilepsy. However, children who have prolonged seizures of 30 minutes or more are at\u00a0a higher risk of developing epilepsy.Beyond actual seizures, there are no early warning signs of epilepsy. However, some factors can put children or adults at a higher risk of epilepsy. These include:A family history of epilepsy.Dementia.Developmental delay.Intellectual disability.Premature birth.Previous damage to the brain, such as from an injury, stroke, or cancer.Personal history of meningitis or encephalitis.Some developmental disorders.Are There Warning Signs a Seizure Is About to Occur?If you or your child have experienced a seizure due to epilepsy, you may worry about having another one. You may fear having a seizure in public, for example.Some people have no warning signs that a seizure is about to happen, while others do. These warning signs may occur either before or during the beginning of a seizure.The prodromal phase: Before a seizureMost people don\u2019t experience what\u2019s called the \u201cprodromal phase.\u201d However,\u00a020% of people with epilepsy\u00a0notice signs and symptoms minutes, hours, or even a few days before a seizure begins.The signs and symptoms that a seizure is coming can include:A \u201cfunny feeling.\u201dAnxiety.Confusion.Difficulty staying focused.Headache.Insomnia.Mood or behavior changes.If a person experiences a prodromal phase, they can take actions to avoid injury due to involuntary movements of a seizure. They should avoid swimming, traveling, or cooking over heat without supervision, for example.Aura: The first part of a seizureFor more than half of people with epilepsy, their seizure starts while their awareness is maintained, which can produce symptoms they remember. Some people refer to this as the \u201caura\u201d or the early stage of a seizure. Focal, or partial, seizures also can happen on their own, without progression to loss of awareness or a generalized seizure.This focal seizure, or \u201caura,\u201d may occur just prior to progression with impaired consciousness. The person may be able to tell someone they are having a seizure or lie or sit down. In other words, an aura can be a warning sign that can prevent someone from being injured during their seizure.For people with epilepsy, signs and symptoms of an \u201caura,\u201d or focal seizure, include:A change in heart rate or blood pressure.A strong sense of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu (the feeling that something has happened before).Confusion.Hallucinations, which may mean seeing, smelling or hearing things that aren\u2019t present.Nausea.Strong feelings of fear, joy, sadness or anger.Sudden, intense feelings of anxiety.Tingling or numbness.Twitching or jerking movements on only one side of the body.The warning signs of a seizure differ from person to person. The good news is that if people with epilepsy have warning signs, they usually experience the same ones each time. Paying attention to emotional and physical symptoms can help you recognize the signs of a seizure.Life with EpilepsyA good source of information for people living with epilepsy is the\u00a0Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central PA.\u00a0This organization provides educational options, support services, and other resource lists (including transportation services information, help understanding health coverage, information about camps for kids with epilepsy, financial assistance, and more).If you need a second opinion or more information on how to live your best life with epilepsy, contact the\u00a0UPMC Comprehensive Epilepsy Center or the Epilepsy Center at UPMC Children\u2019s Hospital of Pittsburgh.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 2, 2021, and was last reviewed on June 11, 2024.SourcesDr. Frank Besag and Dr. Michael Vasey. Prodrome in epilepsy. LinkFebrile Seizures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. LinkDr. Stephen Huff and Dr. Najib Murr. Seizure. StatPearls. LinkWarning Signs of Seizure. Epilepsy Foundation. Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Are the Warning Signs of Epilepsy?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/warning-signs-of-epilepsy\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]