Convulsions are involuntary, fast, rhythmic muscle contractions. The causes of seizures depend on the patient's age. In infants, seizures may suggest cerebral hypoxia, birth defects, or genetic diseases. In young children, seizures are most often the result of fever. In turn, in adults, they may indicate, for example, multiple sclerosis. What are the causes of seizures?

Seizuresare involuntary, rapid, rhythmic contractions of the skeletal muscles. The typicalseizureinvolves unconsciousness, sudden tightening of the muscles throughout the body, followed by generalized, inertial movements of the limbs and head.

Convulsionsare divided into tonic and clonic. A characteristic feature of tonic convulsions is constant muscle tension. They are manifested by tilting the head back, straightening and lifting the limbs, and sometimes bending the upper limbs and extending the lower limbs, turning the head and eyes.

In turn, clonic convulsions are muscle contractions of varying intensity and duration, interrupted by relaxation. The result is the characteristic "back and forth" movement of the affected part of the body.

Convulsions in a newborn, infant - possible causes

  • Perinatal factors: hypoxia, midbrain bleeding, subdural hematomas.
  • Bacterial and viral, intrauterine and perinatal infections.
  • Metabolic disorders: Hypoglycaemia (hypoglycaemia), hypocalcaemia (calcium deficiency), hypomagnesaemia (magnesium deficiency), hyponatraemia (sodium deficiency), hypernatraemia (excess sodium), pyridoxine-dependent seizures (vitamin B6 dependent).

When your seizures last longer than 5 minutes and / or you have more than one seizure and do not regain consciousness between seizures, see your doctor as soon as possible.

  • Congenital metabolic defects: e.g. maple syrup disease, hyperglycinemia, urea cycle disorders.
  • Congenital brain defects.
  • Other genetically determined syndromes: skin-nervous syndromes, Zellweger syndrome.
  • Toxic brain injuries (e.g. local anesthetics).
  • Chronic maternal nicotinism.

Read also: What to do when an infant develops seizures?

Paramedic Ariel Szczotok: convulsions can be life-threatening

Convulsions in children -reasons

The most common cause of seizures in young children is febrile seizures. They are an episode of seizures in a child from 6 months to 5 years of age, in which other causes (trauma, poisoning) have been excluded. The most common type of febrile seizure is generalized tonic-clonic seizures that last a few seconds and rarely exceed 15 minutes. They are followed by a brief period of sleepiness, and usually only occur once in 24 hours.

Other possible causes of seizures in children are:

Affective apnea attacks, also known as syncope attacks, consist of apnea, loss of consciousness, and a decrease in muscle tone under the influence of unfavorable stimuli. It is distinguished by:

  • bluish seizures, appearing between 6 months and 6 years of age, are accompanied by crying, apnea, cyanosis, flabbiness, slow pulse. Seizures are rare;
  • pale seizures (less common) appear in 1-1.5 years of age and are characterized by pale, apnea, unawareness, and arrhythmia. In this case, seizures are common.

Microdamages of the nervous system, psychogenic factors, then tics appear, i.e. involuntary contractions of individual muscles or muscle groups, rhythmic, repeated in a short time. They occur during the day, they disappear in a dream. They concern the facial muscles, neck and limbs. They can be generalized.

Worth knowing

Seizures and epilepsy

Convulsions are commonly identified with epilepsy. Meanwhile, not all seizures manifest themselves as seizures, and vice versa - not all seizures are epilepsy. Loss of consciousness and whole body seizures are characteristic of grand mal, a tonic-clonic seizure in epilepsy.

Also stands out:

  • minor seizure (petit mal - the patient stops his activity and freezes, does not make contact with the environment)
  • myoclonic seizures (rapid muscle contractions without losing consciousness)
  • atonic seizures (loss of consciousness is accompanied by a sudden muscle relaxation and fall)

Seizures in adults - causes

  • Degenerative diseases of the brain, e.g. Alzheimer's disease
  • Infections of the central nervous system, e.g. meningitis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Head injuries

Seizures should not be confused with tremors, which is a disorder involving rhythmic, uncontrolled movement of certain parts of the body.

  • Haemorrhage
  • Severe hypoglycaemia
  • Migraine - seizures can happen during an attackvomiting, or involuntary urination
  • Certain drugs and stimulants can provoke seizures or lower the threshold of convulsive excitability in epilepsy patients (e.g. high-dose penicillins, isoniazid, aminophylline, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, insulin and oral hypoglycemic and antihistamines)
  • Alcohol - 5-10 percent people cause epileptic seizures associated with its withdrawal or significant consumption

In porphyria, in the hepatic form, during an acute attack, seizures may occur less frequently between attacks. Attacks may be related to healing.

Paramedic Ariel Szczotok: do not put anything in your mouth during convulsions

About the authorMonika Majewska A journalist specializing in he alth issues, especially in the areas of medicine, he alth protection and he althy eating. Author of news, guides, interviews with experts and reports. Participant of the largest Polish National Medical Conference "Polish woman in Europe", organized by the "Journalists for He alth" Association, as well as specialist workshops and seminars for journalists organized by the Association.

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