What are the referral criteria for a neurologist when EEG results suggest a seizure disorder?

Referral criteria for a neurologist when EEG results suggest a seizure disorder:

• Refer adults urgently (within 2 weeks) to a clinician with expertise in assessing first seizures and diagnosing epilepsy after a first suspected seizure supported by EEG findings.
• Refer children and young people urgently (within 2 weeks) to a paediatrician with expertise in seizure assessment and diagnosis.
• Refer to a tertiary epilepsy service within 4 weeks if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, seizure type, or epilepsy syndrome suggested by EEG results.
• Refer if the person has drug-resistant epilepsy, intolerable treatment side effects, or requires further specialist assessment such as video EEG telemetry or specialised neuroimaging.
• Children under 3 years, or under 4 years with myoclonic seizures, or with unilateral structural lesions identified by EEG and imaging, should be referred to a tertiary paediatric epilepsy service within 2 weeks.

These referrals ensure timely specialist assessment, diagnosis confirmation, and access to advanced investigations or treatments as indicated by EEG findings and clinical context.

References: NICE NG217