Seizure
Alternate Names : Convulsion, Fit, Epilepsy
What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
Signs and symptoms of seizures vary according to the type of seizure and the portion of the brain that is affected.
Absence seizures used to be called petit mal seizures. They generally have the following characteristics:
include small movements of the face or eyes
involve staring into space or dulling of consciousness
last from a few seconds to a minute
are most common in children
Tonic-clonic seizures were formerly called grand mal seizures. These seizures often have the following characteristics:
begin suddenly without warning
cause confusion or fatigue the rest of the day
include jerking of the arms and legs
include loss of bladder control
involve stiffening of the body
last 1 to 2 minutes, with consciousness returning up to 15 minutes later
Atonic seizures may have the following characteristics:
involve a loss of muscle tone so the person drops to the ground without warning
last a few seconds
person may or may not lose consciousness
Myoclonic seizures generally have the following characteristics:
involve quick muscle jerking
may be triggered by too much alcohol or not enough sleep
usually don't cause loss of consciousness
usually happen in the early morning
Clonic seizures may have the following characteristics:
cause loss of consciousness
involve muscle jerking
are most common in childhood
Simple partial seizures usually have the following characteristics:
consciousness not changed
last a few seconds
may continue on to a complex partial seizure or generalized tonic-clonic seizure
may involve body movements
things in the environment may look, sound, feel, or taste differently
Complex partial seizures may include the following characteristics:
automatic behaviors, such as lip smacking or hand rubbing
confusion after the seizure is over
loss of contact with the environment, even though the person is still conscious
loss of memory for events that occur during the seizure
may go on to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure
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