My daughter had a seizure. She bit her tongue and urinated. Does she have epilepsy?

Question

Hello doctor,

Please help! I am so upset. My daughter had a seizure. She had one 7 months ago too. We thought it was syncope, but now we think it is a seizure. She had CAT scan, blood work, and EKG and all the reports are fine. We saw a neurologist, and he said everything seemed all right. He gave her an overall examination, no other tests though. This time she bit her tongue and also urinated. She got sick when we got home from emergency room too.

Do we have to take her back to the neurologist? Does she have epilepsy?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your daughter's comprehensive medical history written by you.

Tongue bite and urination indicate that these episodes are seizures. The probable diagnosis would be epilepsy.

Tongue bite is not seen in syncope, though urinary incontinence may be rarely observed.

I suggest that she should be put on empirical antiepileptic therapy and observed for response. I wish her a good therapeutic response to medicines.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Here are answers to your queries:

As CT Scan has turned out to be normal, it is unlikely to be a brain tumor. However, ideal neuroimaging investigation in epilepsy is MRI of the brain. If possible, please get done a 'MRI of the brain with epilepsy protocol'.

Environment (as you have mentioned watching a scary movie) should not be the primary cause.

It is hard to comment upon chances. She may get another anytime. It is better to start the treatment as soon as possible. You may request your neurologist for an early appointment.