Seizures aren't unusual; big question is driving

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A seizure is like a little storm in the brain's electrical system, and the symptoms can range from a few minutes' blank stare to a full-scale collapse and loss of consciousness.

It's not all that rare for a usually healthy person to have a seizure, although they are far more common during childhood than adulthood.

When one happens, doctors do a battery of tests to make sure there is no sinister explanation. A test that measures brain waves, called an EEG, can confirm a seizure by detecting a telltale spike. A brain scan called an MRI can detect a tumor, stroke or congenital abnormality.

Fevers frequently trigger seizures, and sometimes are a sign of an infection such as meningitis. Very low blood sugar and dehydration also can trigger a seizure. Simple emergency-room tests can rule all that out.

When there's no apparent cause, doctors label it a benign seizure. Two-thirds of people who have one seizure never have another.

While some people need a few days to feel fully recovered after a major seizure, most report feeling fine again in 10 or 15 minutes, said Dr. Marc Schlosberg, a neurologist at Washington Hospital Center.

The big issue is ability to drive. State laws vary widely on how long someone must be seizure-free to get behind the wheel, regardless of the seizure's cause.