Epilepsy natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Fahimeh Shojaei, M.D.

If left untreated, 23% to 71% of patients with a single unprovoked seizure may experience it again within 2 years. After the second unprovoked seizure, the chance of having another seizure increase to 73%. Recurrent seizures with no underlying illness emphasis on epilepsy diagnosis. Common complications of epilepsy include: Status epilepticus, sudden unexpected death, submersion Injury, dental injury, burns, fractures, head injury, soft tissue injury and motor vehicle accidents.

• If left untreated, 23% to 71% of patients with a single unprovoked seizure may experience it again within 2 years.
• After the second unprovoked seizure, the chance of having another seizure increase to 73%.
• Recurrent seizures with no underlying illness emphasis on epilepsy diagnosis.

• In contrast to adolescent onset epilepsy syndromes most of the childhood onset epilepsy such as benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes will go to remission.
• There is no evidence demonstrating the effect of medical therapy on natural history of epilepsy.^[1]

• Common complications of epilepsy include:
  • Status epilepticus^[2]
  • Sudden unexpected death^[3]
  • Submersion Injury
  • Dental injury^[4]
  • Burns^[5]
  • Fractures^[6]
  • Head injury
  • Soft tissue injury^[7]
  • Motor vehicle accidents^[8]
  • Epileptic heart^[9]
  • Sudden cardiac death