title: The single seizure. To treat or not to treat?
abstract: It is generally accepted that anticonvulsant therapy should be offered once a patient has experienced 2 or more seizures. However, there is controversy over whether treatment should be offered after a single seizure. The type of epileptic event that has occurred may determine whether or not a single episode will bring the individual to medical attention. In individuals who experience a single seizure, there is significantly increased risk of recurrence if neurological or paroxysmal electroencephalogram abnormalities are present or if the seizure is partial. Anticonvulsant therapy, if taken as prescribed after a single seizure, will substantially reduce the risk of seizure recurrence. Unless a further seizure would hold little disadvantage, early treatment probably offers distinctly more benefit than hazard. No data are available to indicate the most appropriate duration of therapy after a single seizure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology and Neuropharmacology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. M.Weinert@medicine.herston.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eadie
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants