The medical history (history of illness) is an important component in the diagnosis of epilepsy, as the physical examination and laboratory values are usually normal.
Family history
- What is the general health of your family members?
- Are there any current infections? If so, which ones?
- Are there any neurological conditions in your family that are common?
Social history
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- What symptoms have you noticed?
- Did you notice any cramping or muscle twitching? If so, on only one extremity? On the entire body?
- Describe in detail:
- Seizure onset?
- Seizure progression?
- Seizure duration?
- Do you have any hallucinations, numbness, or the like during them?
- Do you suffer from sweating, goose bumps during this?
- Does it come at the same time speech disorders, cognitive or affective disorders?
- Occurs unconsciousness?*
- Can you remember everything?
- Did you bite your tongue?
- Have you involuntarily urinated?
- How often does this symptomatology appear?
- Do you currently have an infection?
- Were there febrile convulsions in childhood?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (neurological diseases; if necessary, with X-ray diagnostics).
- Injuries (fall?, craniocerebral trauma?).
- Operations
- Allergies
- Medication use: e.g., non-adherence to antiepileptic drugs/non-compliance.
Medication history
- Analgesics (painkillers)
- Antibiotics
- Flumazenil – antidote for tranquilizer poisoning – can cause seizures in tranquilizer addicts.
- Immunosuppressants – drugs that throttle the body’s defenses.
- Local anesthetics – agents for local anesthesia.
- Psychotropic drugs – drugs used for mental illnesses.
- Theophylline – drug used to treat lung diseases.
- Virostatics – drugs used to fight infections caused by viruses.
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)
