Convulsions

Convulsions are when a person's body shakes hastily and uncontrollably. These often happen during the first few hours of a febrile illness. The child may look "idiosyncratic " for a few moments, then stiffen out, twitch and roll his eyes. Epilepsy can consequently only be diagnosed if more than one seizure has occurred. During convulsions, the person's muscles contract and slack repeatedly. A child who has only ever had one usurpation cannot be said to be epileptic because they may never have another.

Convulsions may happen in such conditions as epilepsy, poisoning, high fever (especially in young children), disturbances of calcium or phosphorus metabolism, alkalosis, diabetes, oxygen deficiency, and a low blood-sugar content, as well as in local irritation or injury of the brain. It influences up to 1 in 20 children between the ages of one and four but can affect children between six months and about five years old. This is very scarce, but the risk increases if the fit is unusual or severe, if there is a family history of epilepsy, or if the child had brain or development abnormalities before the febrile convulsion. Invective of alcohol or illegal drugs can also lead to convulsions, as can injury or illness of the brain. Choking, general head injury, electric shock, heart disease, stroke, and meningitis are all other attainable causes of convulsions. Pregnant women experiencing toxemia and poisoning can also knowledge convulsions.

A febrile convulsion is a common clinical condition. Isochronal seizures (ie those that occur more than once) are known as epilepsy. Seizures are occassionally also called convulsions, fits or attacks. Nevertheless 1 in 25 children will have a febrile convulsion at one time or another. This generally happens between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. Febrile convulsions can be affrightning for parents, especially as they look like epileptic fits. The medical syndrome of recurrent, wanton seizures is termed epilepsy, but some seizures may occur in humans who do not have epilepsy.

Children below five years of age may also experience convulsions as the consequence of a fever that quickly rises in temperature. Children who have convulsions because of fever do not experience long term brain complications or any other side effects from the convulsions. Any tight clothing, basically clothing around the person's neck, should be loosened. If the person vomits, he or she should be moved onto one side in order to prevent inhaling the vomit into the lungs.

Causes of Convulsions

The common Causes of Convulsions :

• Idiopathic (Unknown)
• Metabolic Disorders
• Head trauma
• Brain Tumors
• Alzheimer's disease
• Heat stroke
• Drugs abuse or withdrawal
• Meninitis
• Fevers
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Low Blood Sugar

Symptoms of Convulsions

Some Symptoms of Convulsions :

• Brief blackout followed by period of confusion.
• Drooling or frothing at the mouth.
• Some children regain consciousness faster than others.
• Muscle jerking.
• Breathing stops temporarily.
• Eye movements.
• Unusual behavior like sudden anger, sudden laughter, or picking at one's clothing.
• The head is thrown backwards and the legs and arms begins to jerk..
• jerking localized on one side of the body, light flashing, or hallucinations.

Treatment of Convulsions

• Based on type of seizure. Common medications include Dilantin, Phenobarbital, and Valproic acid.
• Status epilepticus is a life threatening emergency treatment normally involves airway protection, glucose injection, Diazepam or lorazepam intravenously, and Dilantin intravenously.
• When IV and liquid formulations become present, some of the newer drugs may prove to be of greater benefit in the future owing to their multiple mechanisms of action and their neuromodulatory/neuroprotective effects.
• Surgical treatment (removal of brain focus) if all medications fail
• Turn his head to the side so that any saliva or vomit can drain from his mouth.
• Use caution when treating status epilepticus with phenobarbital in neonates. Mistaking a normal deep anesthesia EEG in this age group with a burst suppression pattern of status epilepticus is easy.
• Turn the person on his or her side. If vomiting happens, this helps ensure that the vomit is not inhaled into the lungs.
• Remain with the person until recovery or until you have professional medical help. Meanwhile, monitor the person's vital signs ( pulse , rate of breathing).