Convulsions Or Seizures

Convulsions or seizures, as popularly known, are abnormal involuntary movements of the whole body. They are periodical (episodic) abnormal electrical brain activity which usually manifest in various ways within the body. These movements can be caused by epilepsy or psychological causes. The terms seizure and convulsions are used interchangeably. Seizures or convulsions happen as a result of a sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This electrical activity produces changes in patient’s consciousness. Convulsion episodes are evidenced by rapid, rhythmic and uncontrollable shaking – with muscles contracting and relaxing repeatedly and uncontrollably. Classifications of seizures includes: partial, myoclonic temporal lobe, and generalized
Well-known symptoms may include: Changes in patient behavior, such as picking at one's clothing, shaking of the entire body, irregular eye movements, sudden falling, brief blackout followed by a period of confusion, teeth clenching and uncontrollable muscle spasms with twitching and jerking of limbs. Most symptoms usually stop after few seconds or minutes but in some rare cases, the symptoms may continue for up to 15 minutes (Johns Hopkins Medical Research). Most patients may have warning symptoms before the convulsive attacks; these include nausea, vertigo, anxiety, fear, or visual symptoms such as wavy lines or flashing bright lights before the eyes. For patients undergoing treatment for the root cause of the problem, and who show no positive therapeutic response to the treatment, the seizures or convulsive condition may become epileptic (Gordon,
One can move objects like furniture that may cause physical harm or injure the patient, and if possible try to guide the patient gently to the floor and keep him or her from falling. This is a great way to promote safety. For a patient already having a seizure and already on the ground, trying to position him or her gently on the side so that fluid can leak out of the mouth easily is also a recommended safety measure to prevent choking. After a seizure, assessing or checking the patient for any injuries or physical trauma and staying with the patient after the episode until he or she is fully awake and familiar with the surroundings is also another way to safely help the patient. It is also recommended to loosen any tight clothing around the patient’s upper body, neck and wrists and help facilitate a safe and quiet environment for the patient to rest (USNLM, 2016). Treatment of convulsions includes anticonvulsant medications such as Carbamazepine (brand names include Tegretol, Equetro, Carbatrol and Epitol). The medication treatment is subject to the patient’s presenting symptoms and the type of convulsions or seizures. During treatment, if the underlying problem being addressed is not responding to treatment, or if the condition being treated is not showing a positive therapeutic response to medication treatment, the doctor may make a determination