Topic: Status Epilepticus
Subject: Medicine
A 58-year-old male with a history of seizure attacks suffered from a 30 min loss of consciousness with repetitive seizures with no recovery of consciousness between attacks. What is the disorder this patient is suffering from?
Tonic-clonic seizure
Absence seizure
Atonic seizure
Status epilepticus
Correct Answer :
D. Status epilepticus
Status epilepticus is prolonged, repetitive seizure activity that lasts more than 5-10 minutes, without spontaneous cessation, or recurrent seizures without full return to consciousness inter-ictally (between seizures). Status epilepticus is a medical emergency with a significantly poor outcome; it can result in death if not treated aggressively. Tonic-clonic seizure - specific movements of the arms and legs and/or the face may occur with loss of consciousness. The seizure usually lasts 5 to 20 minutes.
Absence seizures cause a short loss of consciousness (just a few seconds) with few or no symptoms
Atonic and myoclonic seizures are not characterized by loss of consciousness.
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