Which statement best defines status epilepticus in terms of duration?

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Status epilepticus is defined by seizure activity that persists long enough to require urgent treatment. The duration threshold used is five minutes: a seizure lasting five minutes or more is considered status epilepticus. This cutoff is chosen because beyond about five minutes the chances of spontaneous stop decrease and the risk of brain injury and complications rises, so rapid intervention is essential. Seizures shorter than that are usually self-limited. A cluster of seizures could also amount to status if there is no full recovery between episodes, but the five-minute duration criterion is the standard, practical marker used to identify and treat status epilepticus.