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OverviewTreatment

Seizures

Definition:
A seizure or convulsion can be a sudden, violent, uncontrollable contraction of a group of muscles. A seizure can also be more subtle, consisting of only a brief "loss of contact" or a few moments of what appears to be daydreaming.

Alternative Names:
Convulsions

Considerations:
Any mild or major seizure is caused by sudden abnormal function of the brain.

Some types of seizures are:

Epilepsy (a disorder with chronic seizure) begins anywhere between the ages of 3 and 14 years, and continues indefinitely. It may be a familial condition.

The most common cause of seizures in children are febrile seizures. Often, uncomplicated febrile seizures are benign.

When witnessing a seizure, try to remember what happened such as:

  • Did limbs twitch? If so, which ones and on which side.
  • Did the head twist, neck go rigid, eyes turn or roll?
  • Was there drooling or foaming at the mouth?
  • Was there a chewing motion or smacking of the lips?
  • Was there any change in consciousness?
  • Did the victim bite the inside of the cheek, tongue or lips?
  • Was there loss of bladder or bowel control?
If there was no twitching at all, just a sudden blanking out, as in a faint, then it may have been a faint if the victim recovered promptly after lying down. In an epileptic seizure, it usually takes minutes or hours to recover.

Common Causes:


Review Date: 2/7/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial. (2/7/2002). Previous review: Galit Kleiner-Fisman MD, FRCP(C), Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.(7/30/2001).

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