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Condition information

A child’s first seizure

A first seizure can have several causes and does not automatically mean a child has epilepsy.

What families may notice

  • Staring with loss of response
  • Stiffening, jerking or sudden loss of tone
  • An unexplained collapse, confusion or unusual repetitive behaviour

How assessment may help

Assessment focuses on the event description, examination and possible triggers. EEG, imaging or blood tests are selected according to the child’s circumstances.

The child’s own pattern matters. Similar symptoms can have different causes, and tests are selected only after considering the history and examination.

What to bring

  • A referral letter and previous medical reports
  • A current medicine and dose list
  • EEG, MRI or CT reports and the actual images where available
  • School or therapy reports relevant to the concern
  • Safe phone videos of typical episodes, without delaying care or placing the child at risk

Planning the next step

Contact the practice for a non-urgent appointment request. Sudden, severe or rapidly worsening symptoms should be assessed through an emergency service rather than an online form.

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