Convulsion

Convulsion
Synonyms	Seizure, fit
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Involuntary muscle contraction, loss of consciousness, confusion, staring spells
Complications	Injury, aspiration pneumonia, status epilepticus
Onset	Sudden
Duration	Typically a few seconds to a few minutes
Types	N/A
Causes	Epilepsy, fever, head injury, stroke, brain tumor, drug overdose, alcohol withdrawal
Risks	Family history, brain infections, developmental disorders
Diagnosis	Electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan
Differential diagnosis	Syncope, panic attack, migraine, transient ischemic attack
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Anticonvulsant medications, surgery, vagus nerve stimulation
Medication	Phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, levetiracetam
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Common
Deaths	Rare, but possible due to complications

Convulsion refers to a sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.

Causes of Convulsion

Convulsions can be caused by a number of factors. These include:

• Epilepsy: This is a neurological disorder that can cause repeated convulsions. Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. These seizures are episodes that can vary from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking.
• Fever in children: This is also known as febrile seizures. This type of convulsion is triggered by a rapid increase in body temperature.
• Certain toxins or other agents in the blood: These can include alcohol, certain drugs, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes.

Symptoms of Convulsion

The symptoms of a convulsion can vary depending on the cause. They can include:

• Sudden, violent, irregular movements of the body
• Loss of consciousness
• Teeth clenching
• Irregular breathing
• Incontinence

Treatment of Convulsion

Treatment for convulsions depends on the cause. This can include:

• Medication: For convulsions caused by epilepsy, medication can often help to control the seizures.
• Fever reduction: For febrile seizures, the immediate goal of treatment is to reduce the fever.
• Treating the underlying cause: If convulsions are caused by a certain toxin or medical condition, treating that underlying cause can help to stop the convulsions.

See Also

• Seizure
• Epilepsy
• Febrile seizure
• Neurology