What is "status epilepticus"?

What is "status epilepticus"?

Charles Ribak, Ph.D. (Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UC Irvine School of Medicine) gives expert video advice on: What is a "photosensitivity" seizure trigger?; What is an "automatism"? and more...

With epilepsy, ‘status epilepticus' is the most severe type of seizure that one could have. It is so severe that the muscles of the body are all contracting for a very long period of time; this could actually lead to death because you can't breathe and your tongue gets stuck in your throat. Therefore status epilepticus is something that most clinicians try to avoid in their patients. In most people by treating them with various drugs, the seizures never get to be that severe. However, status epilepticus is the most extreme type of seizure that you can have as it could lead to death.