Seizure Treatment in Palamu
Expert diagnosis, EEG-based evaluation, and personalized anti-epileptic treatment by Dr. Yuvraj Lahre, DM Neurology (AIIMS), at Palamu Neuro & Eye Care, Palamu. Helping patients achieve seizure freedom and reclaim their lives.
When to Worry
- !A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus) — this is a life-threatening medical emergency. Prolonged seizure activity can cause permanent brain damage due to excitotoxicity and metabolic stress, and the mortality rate of convulsive status epilepticus is approximately 10 to 20 percent.
- !Multiple seizures occurring in rapid succession without regaining full consciousness between episodes — this pattern, known as serial seizures or acute repetitive seizures, requires emergency intervention with rescue benzodiazepines and hospital evaluation.
- !First-ever seizure in an adult — all first seizures require neurological evaluation with EEG and brain imaging (preferably MRI) to determine the underlying cause, which can range from structural brain lesions to metabolic disorders or genetic epilepsy syndromes.
- !Seizure associated with head trauma, drug or alcohol withdrawal, suspected brain infection (fever with altered sensorium), or in a pregnant woman — these specific contexts imply potentially dangerous underlying causes (intracranial hemorrhage, delirium tremens, meningitis, eclampsia) needing urgent targeted treatment.
- !Seizure accompanied by prolonged confusion, focal weakness, or speech difficulty that does not resolve within 30 to 60 minutes (Todd's paresis that persists) — this may indicate an underlying structural lesion or ongoing seizure activity requiring urgent imaging.
- !A change in seizure pattern in a patient with known epilepsy — increased frequency, new seizure type, or loss of previously achieved seizure control is concerning for disease progression, medication resistance, or development of a new pathology and requires prompt reassessment.
Possible Causes
Epilepsy (Genetic or Structural)
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder defined by an enduring predisposition to generate unprovoked seizures. Genetic epilepsies arise from ion channel mutations or synaptic protein defects (e.g., Dravet syndrome, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy). Structural epilepsies result from brain abnormalities such as hippocampal sclerosis, cortical dysplasia, tumors, or post-stroke scarring. Worldwide, epilepsy affects over 50 million people and carries a two to three times higher risk of premature death compared to the general population.
Febrile Seizures
Seizures triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature, most commonly in children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Simple febrile seizures are brief (less than 5 minutes), generalized, and occur only once in a 24-hour period — they carry an excellent prognosis and do not typically require long-term AED treatment. Complex febrile seizures are prolonged, focal, or recurrent within 24 hours and carry a slightly higher risk of later epilepsy.
Acute Symptomatic Seizures
Provoked seizures occurring in close temporal relationship to an acute brain insult. Common triggers include: acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), traumatic brain injury, central nervous system infections (meningitis, encephalitis, neurocysticercosis), severe metabolic derangements (hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, uremia), alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, and drug toxicity. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause rather than long-term anti-epileptic medication.
Brain Tumors and Structural Lesions
Primary brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas) and metastatic lesions can cause seizures by disrupting normal cortical circuitry. Seizures are the presenting symptom in 20 to 40 percent of brain tumor patients. Low-grade gliomas and cortically based tumors have the highest epileptogenicity. Treatment involves tumor-directed therapy plus anti-epileptic drugs, though tumor-related epilepsy can be notoriously drug-resistant.
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Causes
Autoimmune encephalitis (anti-NMDA receptor, anti-LGI1, anti-GAD65 antibodies) is an increasingly recognized cause of seizures, particularly new-onset refractory seizures in previously healthy individuals. Systemic autoimmune diseases like lupus cerebritis, neurosarcoidosis, and Hashimoto's encephalopathy can also present with seizures. Diagnosis requires specific antibody testing, CSF analysis, and MRI — and treatment is immunotherapy rather than standard AEDs alone.
Which Specialist Should You See?
For any suspected seizure activity, immediate consultation with a neurologist is critical. Dr. Yuvraj Lahre in Medininagar brings AIIMS-level expertise to properly classify the seizure type and initiate the most effective, personalized anti-epileptic treatment plan.
Diagnostic Approach
The cornerstone of Dr. Lahre's diagnosis is a precise eyewitness account of the event. At Palamu Neuro & Eye Care, we utilize advanced EEG testing to capture brain wave abnormalities. Brain imaging, such as an MRI, is also frequently coordinated to rule out structural causes like tumors or past strokes.
Experiencing Seizure?
Don't ignore your symptoms. Get expert evaluation from Dr. Yuvraj Lahre at Palamu Neuro & Eye Care, Palamu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if someone is having a seizure?
Follow these first-aid steps: (1) Stay calm and note the time the seizure starts. (2) Clear the area of sharp or hard objects. (3) Gently guide the person to the floor and turn them onto their side to keep the airway clear. (4) Cushion their head with something soft. (5) Remove eyeglasses and loosen tight clothing around the neck. (6) Do NOT restrain them or put anything in their mouth — it is a myth that people swallow their tongue during a seizure. (7) Stay with them until the seizure ends and they regain full consciousness. (8) Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, if they do not regain consciousness, if they have repeated seizures without recovery, or if they are injured, pregnant, or diabetic.
What types of seizures does Dr. Yuvraj Lahre treat?
Dr. Lahre treats all seizure types recognized by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Focal onset seizures (with or without impaired awareness), generalized onset seizures (absence, myoclonic, atonic, tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic), and unknown onset seizures. He also manages provoked or acute symptomatic seizures — those triggered by fever (febrile seizures), alcohol withdrawal, metabolic disturbances, or acute brain injury — as well as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), which mimic epilepsy but have a psychological basis.
Will I need to take medication for life if I have seizures?
Not necessarily. The duration of anti-epileptic drug (AED) therapy depends on the underlying cause, seizure type, EEG findings, and response to treatment. For provoked seizures (e.g., febrile seizures or those caused by a reversible metabolic issue), short-term or no treatment may be needed. For unprovoked seizures due to epilepsy, treatment is typically recommended for at least 2 years of seizure freedom before considering a slow, medically supervised taper. Some childhood epilepsies outgrow spontaneously. Dr. Lahre discusses the long-term plan with each patient individually based on their specific epilepsy syndrome.
What is an EEG and why is it important for seizure diagnosis?
An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. It is the most important diagnostic tool for epilepsy, helping to: confirm whether spells are epileptic seizures or other events (like syncope or PNES), classify the seizure type and epilepsy syndrome, identify the seizure focus in the brain, and guide medication choice. At Palamu Neuro & Eye Care, Palamu, EEG services are available. In some cases, a sleep-deprived EEG or prolonged video-EEG monitoring may be recommended to capture events.
Can children with seizures be treated at Palamu Neuro & Eye Care?
Yes. Dr. Yuvraj Lahre evaluates and manages seizures in children above the age of 5 years, including childhood epilepsy syndromes, febrile seizures, and new-onset seizures. He works closely with families to explain the diagnosis, teach seizure recognition, and choose child-friendly medication formulations. For very young children or complex pediatric epilepsy syndromes, coordinated referral to a pediatric neurologist is arranged when needed.