What is the difference between convulsions and epilepsy

At times, the confused state of a patient with hypoglycemia can mimic the post-ictal period. To complicate matters, many patients with true seizures will also have non-epileptic spells. In the field, a decision to withhold treatment on the assumption that the exhibited activity is non-epileptic can be dangerous and is not appropriate. Prehospital Seizure Care Preceding signs and symptoms of illness may identify the trigger for the seizure: fever may indicate infection, vomiting may have prevented the patient from taking their maintenance antiepileptic drugs.

New medications may also precipitate seizures. Note the time of onset of convulsions, as well as the length of post-ictal phases. However, if SE is suspected, then prompt treatment is necessary to minimize morbidity and mortality.

However, EMS providers must recognize that abnormal ABCs are likely the result of, rather than the cause of, the seizures; hence, rapid medication administration should take priority over airway control and other procedures.

This is analogous to the priority given to chest compressions and defibrillation in cardiac arrest. Managing the airway of an actively seizing patient can be daunting. Use of a nasopharyngeal airway and supplemental oxygen via non-rebreather mask may be easier to accomplish. Pulse oximetry may be difficult to apply or maintain because of patient movement, but it should be attempted.

Vital signs, including blood pressure, should be monitored. Blood glucose should be evaluated in all seizing patients to rule out hypoglycemia. ECG monitoring should be established, as cardiac dysthymias and sudden death can occur. Secondary Survey The secondary survey should focus on finding clues related to the cause of the seizure e. Identification of a medical alert tag will certainly provide useful information. A forced gaze deviation can be associated with ischemic stroke or ICH. At times, the only motor activity that can occur in the presence of ongoing seizure activity in the brain is a beating nystagmus, which is often associated with gaze deviation.

Prolonged seizures may evolve into subtle neurologic findings, and it can be difficult to definitively determine whether a seizure has ceased and the patient has entered the post-ictal phase. Prehospital providers must be alert for subtle, ongoing SE that requires further pharmacological intervention.

Any continuing convulsions or jaw, lip, finger or eyelid twitching, even minor, should be considered ongoing seizure activity because ocular deviation or nystagmus—rapid, involuntary movement or twitching of the eyes—also reflects ongoing electrical seizure activity.

EMS Treatment Seizing patients should be placed in a safe position—the floor with nearby furniture and objects moved away, for example. This will minimize the risk of secondary trauma. Avoid any attempts to restrain the patient because doing so may result in injury to the patient or provider. Do not place objects e.

Supplemental oxygen, suctioning and nasopharyngeal airways can be considered. Establishing IV access may be useful, but all of these secondary treatments should be considered only after the seizure has stopped or the first dose of benzodiazepines has been given. Pharmacological Intervention Effective termination of a seizure requires early administration of benzodiazepines. Rectal suppositories are available for home use. Lorazepam, which is usually given via IV, can be a difficult medication to maintain in the EMS setting because it degrades when kept at room temperature and must be discarded after 60 days if not refrigerated.

Several studies have compared benzodiazepines to identify which one may be best for EMS use. In one study, lorazepam via IV and diazepam via IV fared similar and both did better than the placebo. The only bad choice in the treatment of a patient in SE is not aggressively giving benzodiazepines at adequate doses because of fear of causing harm.

Untreated patients are twice as likely to require airway support, and respiratory depression requiring intervention is relatively uncommon in treated patients.

If there is no fever and this was your child's first convulsion, the doctor will try to determine other possible causes by asking if there is a family history of seizures or if your child has had any recent head injury.

He will examine your child and also may order blood tests, pictures of the brain using computed tomography CAT scan or magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or testing with an electroencephalogram EEG , which measures the electrical activity of the brain. Sometimes a spinal tap will be performed to obtain a specimen of spinal fluid that can be examined for some causes of convulsions such as meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain.

If no explanation or cause can be found for the seizures, the doctor may consult a pediatric neurologist , a pediatrician who specializes in disorders of the nervous system. If your child has had a febrile convulsion , some parents may try controlling the fever using acetaminophen and sponging. However, these approaches do not prevent future febrile seizures, but only make the child more comfortable. If a bacterial infection is present, your doctor will probably prescribe an antibiotic.

If a serious infection such as meningitis is responsible for the seizure, your child will have to be hospitalized for further treatment. Also, when seizures are caused by abnormal amounts of sugar, sodium, or calcium in the blood, hospitalization may be required so that the cause can be found and the imbalances corrected.

If epilepsy is diagnosed , your child usually will be placed on an anticonvulsant medication. When the proper dosage is maintained, the seizures can almost always be completely controlled. Your child may need to have her blood checked periodically after starting some medications to make certain there is an adequate amount present. She also may need periodic EEGs. Medication usually is continued until there have been no seizures for a year or two. The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician.

There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Follow Us. Back to Top. Chronic Conditions. Common Surgical Procedures. Developmental Disabilities. Emotional Problems. From Insects or Animals. Genitals and Urinary Tract. Learning Disabilities. Epilepsy is characterized by recurring seizures.

However, not all seizures are epileptic in nature. Some people may experience a seizure and not be diagnosed with epilepsy.

Imagine that the brain consists of an intricate system of highways, with traffic constantly flowing on the vast network of roads. A convulsion is an episode in which you experience rigidity and uncontrolled muscle spasms along with altered consciousness. The spasms cause jerky motions that generally last a minute or two.

Convulsions can be a symptom of a number of conditions, including a sudden fever spike, tetanus, or very low blood sugar. Keep reading to learn more about what causes them and what to do if someone is having a convulsion. A convulsion is a type of seizure. Seizures involve bursts of electrical activity in the brain. There are many different types of seizures, and the symptoms of a seizure depend on where in the brain the seizure is happening. These electrical storms in the brain may be caused by illness, a reaction to a medication, or other medical conditions.

Sometimes the cause of a convulsion is unknown. Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic condition. Convulsions can be a reaction to a single medical event or a part of a medical condition.

A convulsion caused by fever is called a febrile convulsion. Febrile convulsions usually occur in infants and children who have a sudden spike in body temperature. The temperature change can be so rapid that you may not even be aware of the fever until the convulsion. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that involves recurring seizures not caused by another known condition. There are many types of seizures, but a tonic-clonic seizure , otherwise known as grand mal seizure, is the type that usually involves convulsions.

Having had febrile convulsions does not increase the risk of developing epilepsy. Children may be cranky after a febrile convulsion and some may fall into a deep sleep lasting an hour or more. Be sure to tell emergency responders about any known conditions, as well as drugs or alcohol that the person may have taken.

If possible, record the convulsion so you can show the doctor.