Patients who experience a seizure for the first time should seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In some cases, patients may be referred to a neurologist. Visiting a physician will also help establish a record of events surrounding the seizure in case the patient experiences additional seizures or appears to have a seizure disorder.

A physician will begin by compiling a patient’s medical history. This can include questions about the seizure, including:

• Date and time of seizure
  
• Seizure duration
  
• Body parts affected
  
• Type of movement or symptoms involved
  
• Circumstances immediately preceding the seizure

Because a patient may have no memory of what occurred during the seizure, people who witnessed the seizure may be asked about it. Written accounts by witnesses to the seizure can help a physician identify the underlying cause.

Patients are advised to tell their physicians about all current or suspected medical conditions and all medications being taken, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.

A physical examination will be performed. This will include taking the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate to identify any potential abnormalities that may be contributing to the patient’s symptoms.

When a person experiences a seizure for the first time, a physician may conduct certain tests to help identify the cause of the seizure. The most common test used is the electroencephalogram (EEG). During an EEG, electrical activity in the brain is monitored through electrodes that are placed on the scalp so that any abnormalities can be noted. A physician may request that the EEG be performed while the patient is sleeping or over a period of days to obtain the most accurate results of the patient’s brain activity. However, a normal EEG does not necessarily rule out seizures.