Seizure Child

Definition

A seizure is a sudden change in behavior. It is caused by sudden, abnormal, and excessive electrical activity in the brain. A neonatal seizure occurs in newborn babies.

Seizures may be severe or mild. They may cause physical changes like convulsions. It may affect only part of the body or the entire body. A short seizure itself does not cause serious health conditions. Prolonged seizures can lead to permanent damage. The damage is due to decreased oxygen and excessive brain cell activity.

A seizure may be a symptom or side effect of a more serious health condition. If your child has a seizure your doctor will want to find out what caused it.

Generalized Seizure

Abnormal and excessive electrical activity in the brain.

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Causes

There are a variety of causes of seizures in children, which include:

• Conditions like epilepsy
• An injury or trauma to the head
• Infections, including meningitis and abscesses in the brain
• Brain tumor
• Stroke
• Accidental poisoning
• Certain medical conditions, including:
  • Low blood sugar
  • Very high fever—called febrile seizures
  • Electrolyte abnormalities
• Hydrocephalus
• Congenital diseases or deformities

Sometimes seizures occur for unknown reasons.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your child's risk of having a seizure include:

• Having had a previous seizure
• Having a very high fever
• Having health conditions like:
  • Epilepsy
  • Brain tumors
  • Brain infections
• Having a family history of seizures.

Symptoms

Seizure symptoms may include:

• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Staring, or a dazed look
• Jerking movements of the limbs and/or body (convulsions)
• Difficulty breathing
• Eyes rolling back in the head
• Crying or moaning
• Vomiting
• Urinating

If you suspect your child is having a seizure, act quickly:

• Protect from physical injury—Place your child on the floor or bed. Make sure they are not near any hard or sharp objects.
• Protect airway—Do not place anything in your child's mouth during the convulsion. Turn your child’s head to the side. This will allow saliva or vomit to drain from the mouth.
• Watch the time—The length of the convulsions should be less than five minutes.
• Unless the doctor has told you otherwise, call for emergency medical services.

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your child‘s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Tests may be done to look for the cause of the seizure.

Your child's bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:

• Lumbar puncture
• Blood tests

Images may be taken of your child's brain. This can be done with:

• CT scan
• MRI scan

You child's brain activity may be tested. This can be done with an EEG.

Treatment

Treatment for the seizures depends on the cause of the seizures. Some seizures will not require treatment. If the seizure is caused by an underlying condition, the doctor will create a plan to treat that condition. Resolving the underlying condition will likely stop the seizures.

Referral to a pediatric neurologist may also be needed.

Medications

Anticonvulsant medication can help to prevent seizures. The medication that is used will depend on the type of seizure. These medications do have some side effects. As a result, they are often only used for severe or frequent seizures.

Medications are not usually prescribed for febrile seizures. These seizures are associated with a rapid increase in temperature due to a fever. Children will outgrow these seizures by about 5 years of age. They are rarely associated with long term problems so anticonvulsant medication is rarely recommended.

Surgery

Some severe seizures may be treated with brain surgery. This may occur in some children with epilepsy. During this type of surgery certain nerve fibers may be separate or a section of the brain may be removed. This surgery may help to reduce or eliminate seizures. Surgery is not done very often.

Prevention

Medication, if recommended, can usually prevent seizures. It is important to take anticonvulsant medication as needed.

Febrile seizures are may be the first sign of a fever. This can make it difficult to prevent. Another seizure may happen when a fever is present in the future. The doctor may advise medication to keep fever down whenever the child gets sick.