Key Updates on NICE Guideline NG217: Epilepsies in Children, Young People, and Adults (2025 Update)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released an important update to its guideline on epilepsies in children, young people, and adults (NG217), with the latest revision published on 30 January 2025. This update provides evidence-based recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of epilepsy, ensuring that healthcare professionals follow the most up-to-date practices. In this summary, we highlight the key changes and their implications for primary care providers, neurologists, and patients.

NICE Update Summary

NICE Update Summary – Key Messages for Primary Care

Topic	Key Recommendations
Referral After First Seizure	Urgent referral (within 2 weeks) for all age groups. Adults to epilepsy specialist, children to paediatrician with seizure expertise.
Referral After Remission	Urgent referral (within 2 weeks) if seizure recurrence after remission.
Risk of Second Seizure	Assess individual risk factors. In adults, check for mental health issues, vascular risks (diabetes ↑, hypertension ↑, AF ↑), and sepsis.
Children & Seizure Risk	Higher risk if afebrile seizure, especially within 6-12 months. Complicated febrile seizures increase epilepsy risk.
Patient & Family Support	Provide information on seizure recognition, first aid, reducing recurrence risk, and emergency contact options.

Specialist Assessment & Diagnosis

Topic	Key Recommendations
Initial Assessment...

Try our Free Plan to get the full article.