How to Understand the Causes of Seizures

A seizure is a series of uncontrollable muscular contractions that may affect the whole body, or part of it. A seizure is often followed by memory loss; brain damage can occur if a seizure is prolonged or severe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Consider that seizures have many possible causes, and don't always indicate epilepsy. They can be genetic, or occur for no reason.
2. Realize that a seizure can be caused by a head injury. A sudden, forceful impact to brain tissue can result in electrical disturbances that lead to seizure.
3. Watch for seizures in a feverish child. Increased temperature creates electrical disturbances in the brain. This condition can also be called "infantile spasm" or "febrile seizure."
4. Know that a seizure can occur as a symptom of central nervous system infections, like meningitis and encephalitis.
5. Consider that brain tumors, brain cancer and stroke can all cause seizures.
6. Consider that eclampsia, a disease that occurs during pregnancy, can cause seizures.
7. Understand that seizures can be caused by tetanus.
8. Expect a seizure during drug withdrawal or drug overdose. Crack cocaine is a common seizure-causing drug.
9. Watch for seizure activity anytime the brain is deprived of oxygen, like after a drowning or choking.
10. Know that seizure activity is common in infants who experience trauma while being born.

Tips & Warnings

• Seizures are classified as "partial" (beginning locally, in one group of muscles) or "generalized" (occurring with bilateral symmetry). Most times, partial seizures do not involve complete loss of consciousness.