Seizures can affect movement, awareness, sensation or behaviour. Understanding what happened and seeking the right care are important first steps for patients and families in Barbados and across the Caribbean.
What is a seizure?
A seizure is a sudden episode caused by a disturbance in the brain’s electrical activity. Some seizures involve shaking and loss of awareness; others may cause brief staring, unusual sensations or changes in behaviour. Not all episodes of shaking or loss of consciousness are seizures, and a single seizure does not necessarily mean a person has epilepsy.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition involving a tendency to have recurrent epileptic seizures. A specialist considers the history, examination and individual risk when making a diagnosis. Causes vary and are not always identified.
When to seek emergency care
Call local emergency services if this is a first suspected seizure, it lasts five minutes or longer, seizures repeat without recovery, the person has difficulty breathing, is seriously injured, or you are otherwise concerned about an emergency. Follow an existing individual seizure care plan where available.
What to do during a seizure
Stay with the person, note the time, protect them from injury and cushion their head if they are on the ground. Do not restrain them or place anything in their mouth. When the movements stop, place them on their side if appropriate and monitor breathing while they recover. Give emergency medication only as directed by their care plan and your training.
How are seizures assessed?
A clinician may ask what happened before, during and after an episode, how long it lasted, whether awareness changed and how recovery occurred. An account from someone who witnessed the episode, and a safely recorded video if available, may be useful. The healthcare professional decides whether further assessment, such as heart testing, brain imaging or an EEG, is appropriate.
What does an EEG show?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) records electrical activity from the scalp. It can help a specialist assess some seizure disorders alongside the person’s history and other findings. A normal EEG does not by itself rule out epilepsy, and an EEG is not needed for every episode. Learn about EEG monitoring and ask your healthcare professional about referral requirements.
Seizures in children
Children can have many types of episodes, including brief staring spells. Not every staring episode is a seizure. Discuss repeated or unexplained events with your child’s healthcare professional, and seek emergency help for the circumstances above.
Related information
See our symptoms and conditions overview and genetic testing information. Genetic testing is appropriate only in selected circumstances, as advised by a clinician. Service availability varies by location.
Medical information notice
This page is for education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Do not delay seeking care. For an emergency, contact local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. Website enquiries are not monitored as an emergency service.