This means that they may occur several times a day, or for several days in a row.Ī seizure can be caused by many things. These seizures tend to occur in clusters. Myoclonic seizure. This type of seizure causes quick movements or sudden jerking of a group of muscles.

Not all of these phases occur in everyone with this type of seizure. He or she may have problems with vision or speech, and may have a bad headache, fatigue, or body aches. During the postictal period, your child may be sleepy. This is followed by contraction and relaxation of the muscles (clonic period) and the postictal period. Your child’s body, arms, and legs will flex (contract), extend (straighten out), and tremor (shake). Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTC). This is also called grand mal seizure. The classic form of this kind of seizure has 5 distinct phases. During the seizure, your child will be limp and unresponsive. Absence seizures almost always start between ages 4 to 12.Ītonic seizure. This is also called a drop attack. With an atonic seizure, your child has a sudden loss of muscle tone and may fall from a standing position or suddenly drop his or her head. This type of seizure is sometimes mistaken for a learning or behavioral problem. These seizures may occur several times a day. He or she may go on with activities as though nothing happened. When the seizure is over, your child may not recall what just occurred. The seizure usually lasts no longer than 30 seconds. His or her mouth or face may twitch or eyes may blink rapidly. Types of generalized seizures include:Ībsence seizure. This is also called petit mal seizure. This seizure causes a brief changed state of consciousness and staring. Your child will lose consciousness and be tired after the seizure (postictal state). This is called the postictal period.Ī generalized seizure occurs in both sides of the brain. Your child may be tired or sleepy after the seizure. These may range from gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, or laughing. Your child may look awake, but have a variety of unusual behaviors. Your child may or may not pass out, or just stop being aware of what's going on around him or her. Your child will likely have altered consciousness.

Your child won’t lose consciousness in this type of seizure.Ĭomplex focal seizure. This type of seizure often occurs in the area of the brain that controls emotion and memory function (temporal lobe). Your child may also have sweating, nausea, or become pale. For example, it may only include the fingers, or larger muscles in the arms and legs. The seizure activity is limited to an isolated muscle group. If the abnormal electrical brain function is in the part of the brain involved with vision (occipital lobe), your child’s sight may be altered. Simple focal seizure. The symptoms depend on which area of the brain is affected.

Or your child may have visual changes, hearing abnormalities, or changes in sense of smell. The most common aura involves feelings, such as deja vu, impending doom, fear, or euphoria. This is more common with a complex focal seizure. Before a focal seizure, your child may have an aura, or signs that a seizure is about to occur. Focal (partial) seizuresįocal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. The type of seizure depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected and what happens during the seizure. The 2 main categories of epileptic seizures are focal (partial) seizure and generalized seizure. But when a child has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. A seizure occurs when one or more parts of the brain has a burst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal brain signals. The brain consists of nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical activity. It affects children and adults of all races and ethnic backgrounds. It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. Epilepsy and Seizures in Children What is epilepsy in children?Įpilepsy is a brain condition that causes a child to have seizures.

Nocturnal epilepsy brain affected