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</div><div><span>Seizures</span></div></div>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>A seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.</p><p>The term "seizure" is often used interchangeably with "convulsion." During convulsions a person has uncontrollable shaking that is rapid and rhythmic, with the muscles contracting and relaxing repeatedly. There are many different types of seizures. Some have mild symptoms without shaking.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Considerations</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>It may be hard to tell if someone is having a seizure. Some seizures only cause a person to have <a test="test" href="./000696.htm">staring spells</a>. These may go unnoticed.</p><p>Specific symptoms depend on which part of the brain is involved. Symptoms occur suddenly and may include:</p><ul><li>Brief blackout followed by a period of <a test="test" href="./003205.htm">confusion</a> (the person cannot remember for a short time)</li><li>Changes in behavior, such as picking at one's clothing</li><li>Drooling or frothing at the mouth</li><li>Eye movements</li><li>Grunting and snorting</li><li>Loss of bladder or bowel control</li><li>Mood changes, such as sudden anger, unexplainable fear, panic, joy, or laughter</li><li>Shaking of the entire body</li><li>Sudden falling</li><li>Tasting a bitter or metallic flavor</li><li>Teeth clenching</li><li>Temporary stop in breathing</li><li>Uncontrollable muscle spasms with twitching and jerking limbs</li></ul><p>Symptoms may stop after a few seconds or minutes, or continue for up to 15 minutes. They rarely continue longer.</p><p>The person may have warning symptoms before the attack, such as:</p><ul><li>Fear or anxiety</li><li><a test="test" href="./003117.htm">Nausea</a></li><li>Vertigo (feeling as if you are spinning or moving)</li><li>Visual symptoms (such as flashing bright lights, spots, or wavy lines before the eyes)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Seizures of all types are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.</p><p>Causes of seizures can include:</p><ul><li>Abnormal levels of sodium or glucose in the blood</li><li>Brain infection, including <a test="test" href="./000680.htm">meningitis</a> and <a test="test" href="./001415.htm">encephalitis</a></li><li>Brain injury that occurs to a baby during labor or childbirth</li><li>Brain problems that occur before birth (congenital brain defects)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000768.htm">Brain tumor</a> (a rare cause)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000053.htm">Electric shock</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000694.htm">Epilepsy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003090.htm">Fever</a> (particularly in <a test="test" href="./000980.htm">young children</a>)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000028.htm">Head injury</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./007115.htm">Heart disease</a></li><li>Heat illness (<a test="test" href="./003094.htm">heat intolerance</a>)</li><li>High <a test="test" href="./003090.htm">fever</a></li><li>Phenylketonuria (<a test="test" href="./001166.htm">PKU</a>), which can cause seizures in infants</li><li>Poisoning</li><li>Street drugs, such as angel dust (PCP), cocaine, and amphetamines</li><li><a test="test" href="./000726.htm">Stroke</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000898.htm">Toxemia of pregnancy</a></li><li>Toxin buildup in the body due to liver or <a test="test" href="./000501.htm">kidney failure</a></li><li>Very high blood pressure (<a test="test" href="./000491.htm">malignant hypertension</a>)</li><li>Venomous bites and stings (such as a <a test="test" href="./000031.htm">snake bite</a>)</li><li>Withdrawal from <a test="test" href="./000764.htm">alcohol</a> or certain medicines after using it for a long time </li></ul><p>Sometimes, no cause can be found. This is called idiopathic seizures. They are usually seen in children and young adults, but can occur at any age. There may be a family history of <a test="test" href="./000694.htm">epilepsy</a> or seizures.</p><p>If seizures continue repeatedly after any underlying problem is treated, the condition is called epilepsy.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Home Care</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>Most seizures stop by themselves. But during a seizure, the person can be hurt.</p><p>When a seizure occurs, the main goal is to protect the person from injury:</p><ul><li>Try to prevent a fall. Lay the person on the ground in a safe area. Clear the area of furniture or other sharp objects.</li><li>Cushion the person's head.</li><li>Loosen tight clothing, especially around the neck.</li><li>Turn the person on their side. If vomiting occurs, this helps make sure that the vomit is not inhaled into the lungs.</li><li>Look for a medical ID bracelet with seizure instructions.</li><li>Stay with the person until they recover or until professional medical help arrives. </li></ul><p>Things friends and family members should NOT do: </p><ul><li>DO NOT restrain (try to hold down) the person.</li><li>DO NOT place anything between the person's teeth during a seizure (including your fingers).</li><li>DO NOT attempt to hold the person's tongue.</li><li>DO NOT move the person unless they are in danger or near something hazardous.</li><li>DO NOT try to make the person stop convulsing. They have no control over the seizure and are not aware of what is happening at the time.</li><li>DO NOT give the person anything by mouth until the convulsions have stopped and the person is fully awake and alert.</li><li>DO NOT start CPR unless the seizure has clearly stopped and the person is not breathing or has no pulse. </li></ul><p>If a baby or child has a seizure during a high fever, cool the child slowly with lukewarm water. DO NOT place the child in a cold bath. Call your child's health care provider and ask what you should do next. Also, ask if it is OK to give the child acetaminophen (Tylenol) once they are awake.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Call 911 or the local emergency number if:</p><ul><li>This is the first time the person has had a seizure</li><li>A seizure lasts more than 2 to 5 minutes</li><li>The person does not awaken or have normal behavior after a seizure</li><li>Another seizure starts soon after a seizure ends</li><li>The person had a seizure in water</li><li>The person is pregnant, injured, or has diabetes</li><li>The person does not have a medical ID bracelet (instructions explaining what to do)</li><li>There is anything different about this seizure compared to the person's usual seizures </li></ul><p>Report all seizures to the person's provider. The provider may need to adjust or change the person's medicines.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What to Expect at Your Office Visit</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>A person who has had a new or severe seizure is usually seen in a hospital emergency room. The provider will try to diagnose the type of seizure based on the symptoms.</p><p>Tests will be done to rule out other medical conditions that cause seizures or similar symptoms. This may include fainting, <a test="test" href="./000730.htm">transient ischemic attack (TIA)</a> or stroke, <a test="test" href="./000924.htm">panic attacks</a>, <a test="test" href="./000709.htm">migraine headaches</a>, sleep disturbances, and other possible causes.</p><p>Tests that may be ordered include:</p><ul><li>Blood and urine tests</li><li><a test="test" href="./003330.htm">CT scan</a> of the head or <a test="test" href="./003335.htm">MRI</a> of the head</li><li><a test="test" href="./003931.htm">EEG</a> (usually not in the emergency room)</li><li>Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) </li></ul><p>Further testing is needed if a person has:</p><ul><li>A new seizure without a clear cause</li><li>Epilepsy (to make sure the person is taking the right amount of medicine) </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Secondary seizures; Seizure - secondary; Convulsions; Epileptic seizure</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Patient Instructions</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-carepnt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div name="Patient Instructions" class="section-body" id="section-carepnt"><ul class="side-nav"><li><a href="../patientinstructions/000123.htm">Brain aneurysm repair - discharge</a></li>
<li><a href="../patientinstructions/000221.htm">Epilepsy in adults - what to ask your doctor</a></li>
<li><a href="../patientinstructions/000127.htm">Epilepsy in children - discharge</a></li>
<li><a href="../patientinstructions/000222.htm">Epilepsy in children - what to ask your doctor</a></li>
<li><a href="../patientinstructions/000128.htm">Epilepsy or seizures - discharge </a></li>
<li><a href="../patientinstructions/000223.htm">Febrile seizures - what to ask your doctor</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19590t.jpg" alt="Convulsions - first aid - series" title="Convulsions - first aid - series" class="side-img"/><a href="../presentations/100212_1.htm">Convulsions - first aid - series</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19237t.jpg" alt="CT scan of the brain" title="CT scan of the brain" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19237.htm">CT scan of the brain</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/23268t.jpg" alt="Head MRI" title="Head MRI" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19899.htm">Head MRI</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Abou-Khalil BW, Gallagher MJ, Macdonald RL. Epilepsies. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. <em>Bradley's and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice</em>. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 100.</p><p>Krumholz A, Wiebe S, Gronseth GS, et al. Evidence-based guideline: management of an unprovoked first seizure in adults: report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. <em>Neurology. </em>2015;84(16):1705-1713. PMID: 25901057 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25901057/" target="_blank">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25901057/</a>. Reaffirmed on February 10, 2024.</p><p>Maciel CB, Elie-Turrene M-C. Seizure. In: Walls RM, ed. <em>Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice.</em> 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 92.</p><p>Mikati MA, Tchapyjnikov D. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. <em>Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.</em> 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 611.</p><p>Wiebe S. The epilepsies. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 372.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 4/29/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Internal review and update on 02/23/24 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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