Screening for Epilepsy
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The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Guidelines
People are usually not screened or tested for epilepsy unless they have:
- Any unexplained seizure
- An unexplained loss of consciousness
- Strong family history
However, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out that, “Ongoing research into finding the exact genes and genetic disorders that play a part in causing epilepsy is being done. This will provide greater opportunities for genetic screening and prenatal diagnosis of epilepsy in the future.”
References:
Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 2000.
Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ .
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ .
Last reviewed Feburary 2010 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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