Status epilepticus is nothing more than recurrent epileptic seizures between which neurons (nerve cells) do not return to normal function. A distinction is made between early discharges, i.e. up to 30 minutes, and late discharges, i.e. those occurring after these 30 minutes.

A prolonged epileptic state increases the risk of damage to the neurons present in the brain. In about 50% of patients, an epileptic seizure is preceded by prodromal symptoms, i.e. symptoms that herald it. This applies mostly to cases with focal epilepsy. Sufferers experience these a few days or hours before the seizure occurs.

The most commonly mentioned heraldic symptoms include:

• sudden changes in mood from explosiveness and aggression to tearfulness, anxiety, fear,
• depression,
• problems with concentration,
• constant fatigue and general tiredness when performing simple tasks,
• tinnitus, feeling of heaviness, headaches,
• problems falling asleep, waking up during the night,
• gastrointestinal problems,
• some patients, are not able to identify exactly what changes are happening to them, but feel that something "wrong" is happening to them.

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The harbingers of an epileptic seizure are an individual matter for each patient; everyone feels them differently. They are not well understood. During the course of these symptoms, changes in the EEG recording are also apparent.