Seizure

Seizures (or convulsions) are temporary alterations in brain function expressing themselves into a changed mental state, tonic or clonic movements and various other symptoms. They are due to temporary abnormal electrical activity of a group of brain cells.

Types

Some seizure types are:

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• petit mal seizure (an absence seizure, or very brief loss of consciousness.) Typically these have a sudden onset, with motor arrest and sometimes eye blinking, and last a few seconds. In susceptible people, they can be induced by hyperventilation. They may present as learning difficulties.
• Simple partial seizure (usually a motor or sensory seizure that is restricted to one part of the body, without alteration of consciousness.)
• partial complex seizure (characterized by alteration or loss of consciousness, behavioral or emotional symptoms, loss of memory, and/or automatisms; temporal lobe and frontal lobe seizures are often in this category)
• generalized tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal seizure; motor seizure of both sides of the body; rarely involves auras, can be preceded by a sense of general malaise; the tonic phase involves vocalisation, severe hyperextension, possible respiratory arrest, cyanosis, reflex bladder emptying. The clonic phase involves rhythmic generalised jerking, followed by prolonged unconsciousness. After a seizure, aches, pains, generalised headache, lethargy, and a bitten tongue are common.)
• atonic seizure (also known as a "drop attack", or akinetic seizure), during which brief loss of muscle tone causes abrupt falls.
• myoclonic seizure (characterized by abnormal, lightning-fast muscle contractions)
• So-called "Pokemon seizures" due to photosensitive epilepsy, which can be triggered by certain patterns of flashing/flickering lights, such as from video games or cartoons.

It is still disputable whether a febrile seizure has to be regarded as an epileptic disorder or not; the dispute hinges on whether fever is considered a provocant. Contributing to this dispute is the knowledge that most children with simple febrile seizures outgrow them with no lasting ill effect. By definition, a patient with two or more episodes of unprovoked seizures is said to have epilepsy (a condition also known as a seizure disorder). Many people with epilepsy perceive "auras": telltale sensations such as strange lights, unpleasant smells or odd feelings before their seizures.

Related Topics:
Febrile seizure - Fever - Epilepsy - Seizure disorder - Aura

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A person who is having seizures of any kind continuously, with little or no time separating one from the next, is said to be in "status epilepticus." This is a dangerous situation. It requires immediate emergency intervention, usually through the injection of appropriate anti-seizure drugs. When the person in "status" is pregnant, loss of the pregnancy is possible, raising the stakes even higher.

Related Topics:
Status epilepticus - Pregnant

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