Does all epilepsy have to be treated?

  In the minds of many patients and families, epilepsy means long-term medication, and even some doctors think this way. In fact, some epilepsy does not require special treatment.  Case 1 Male, 55 years old. In the last 3 years, he had 3 seizures with sudden onset of unconsciousness, falling to the ground, head tilted back, eyes upward, teeth closed and limbs stiffened, which lasted for 1 minute and relieved. After the attack, he had a headache and vomited. He was sent to the emergency room by his family. The cranial CT did not show any abnormality and the ECG was normal. He was diagnosed as “epilepsy” and came to our clinic for treatment. After detailed medical history, the patient felt chest tightness before each seizure and fainted afterwards, and could not recall the whole process. There was no abnormality in 24-hour EEG and cranial MRI+MRA.  Case 2 male, 15 years old. Multiple episodes of unconsciousness and convulsions after playing video games and staying up late, with no discomfort before the episodes. Each time, it was only when the parents heard abnormal sounds in the patient’s room that they realized the patient was having convulsions and could not be awakened. The patient’s limbs twitched rhythmically during the seizure and the head was tilted back. After the seizure, the patient could not recall the process. Examination of 24-hour EEG and cranial MRI did not show any abnormality.  There are often many clinical cases where each seizure is triggered by a clear cause, including the above mentioned playing mahjong and games, but also some patients are triggered by staying up late, drinking alcohol, reciting aloud, meditating, etc. If the patient has no abnormalities after examination of imaging, long-range EEG, and blood biochemical tests, treatment can be withheld, but lifestyle changes must be made. For example, no more night shifts, no more mahjong, no more games, etc., usually no more attacks will occur. However, if the attack still occurs after eliminating the above-mentioned triggers, long-term medication is needed to control it.  The patient in case 1 stopped playing mahjong afterwards and did not have another seizure.  Very interestingly, the patient in case 2 was adamantly opposed to stopping playing games. I repeatedly explained to him that because playing games caused his seizures, that frequent seizures would produce accidents, memory loss, etc., with serious consequences, and that playing games would interfere with sleep, they had to be stopped. The same was communicated to the family. The child was adamantly opposed and there was nothing the parents could do. Finally, I told him that if he stopped playing games, he could stop taking medication; if he had to play games, he would have to take medication for a long time. The child said he would rather take medicine than play games! Luckily, he didn’t have any more attacks after taking the medication. Every time he came for a follow-up appointment, I would warn him not to stay up late to play.