What is defined as a prolonged seizure lasting longer than 15 minutes?

A prolonged seizure lasting longer than 15 minutes is referred to as status epilepticus. This condition is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate intervention because prolonged seizures can lead to significant complications, including brain damage and other systemic effects due to prolonged neuronal excitation and increased metabolic demands.

Status epilepticus can present as either a continuous seizure or a series of seizures without full recovery of consciousness between them. The definition is key because it establishes the urgency for treatment; timely intervention can greatly influence the outcome for the patient.

Other terms related to seizure activity include epilepsy, which is a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, and convulsive seizures, which refer to those involving significant motor activity. Partial seizures are a type of seizure that begins in a localized region of the brain and can either remain localized or generalize. However, neither epilepsy, convulsive seizures, nor partial seizures specifically describes the duration of the seizure, which is crucial for defining status epilepticus.