TYPES OF SEIZURES AND DURATIONS FULL

This is the first time the person has had a seizure, or, in the case of an established epileptic, the seizure represents a marked change from the type or duration of seizure typically experienced.The person is pregnant, is a diabetic, is injured or appears to have life-threatening conditions.The person experiences persistent confusion or remains unconscious.The person having the seizure also has a fever.The person experiences persistent breathing difficulty.Injuries have resulted from the seizure.The seizure lasts five minutes or longer or is repeated.

TYPES OF SEIZURES AND DURATIONS FULL

Observe the length of the seizure, the movements involved, direction of head and eye movements and the time it takes to return to full consciousness and alertness, so you can report this information to a medical professional.Ĭall 911 or the local emergency number immediately if:.If not, start rescue breathing and seek immediate medical attention. Make sure the airway is clear and the person is breathing.After the convulsion ceases or if the person is vomiting, roll the person onto his or her left side to protect the airway and to help drain away any mouth secretions.Do not attempt to restrain the convulsions.Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.Loosen ties, scarves or other neckwear.Move harmful objects out of the way, cushion the head and protect the person from falling.Take the following actions if someone is having a seizure: In some cases, seizures may also involve isolated abnormal movements of a limb, periods of staring or abnormal stiffening without rhythmic jerking. Different types of seizures can affect one or all areas of the brain for varying durations, which causes different symptoms. A transition back to the person’s normal state known as the “post-ictal period” this is a recovery period for the brain, which may last anywhere from a few seconds to several hours and may involve combativeness.Incontinence or loss of urine (in some cases).Barely detectable breathing during the seizure followed by deep breathing during recovery.A loss of responsiveness or alertness, with the eyes generally remaining open.A complex partial seizure or a convulsion involving rhythmic jerking.A preceding warning or aura (in some cases).However, it is important to keep the person away from harmful objects and to make sure his or her airway remains clear. In the case of most epileptic seizures, it is usually not necessary to call 911 or the local emergency number. In approximately 50 percent of seizures, no cause can be identified. Seizures may also be caused by alcohol abuse and alcoholism, Alzheimer’s Disease, lupus, kidney failure, stroke and other illnesses. In other cases, seizures may be caused by head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, inadequate brain development, genetic deficiencies, infectious disease and fevers. Seizures are common in persons who have epilepsy and can last from a few seconds to more than five minutes. Other symptoms of motor seizures include coordinated actions, for example, automatic repetitive hand movements, referred to as automatisms.Seizures involve sudden involuntary alterations in behavior or consciousness resulting from excessive electrical activity in the brain. This can affect specific muscles or affect speech. Sometimes motor seizures present with weakness. The movements may spread from one area and involve one side of the body or sometimes extend to involve muscles on both sides of the body. Motor seizures cause a change in muscle activity, such as jerking of a finger, stiffening of one part of the body, or weakness in specific muscles. The type of symptoms the person experiences would help to then classify a seizure as motor vs. Sometimes it is difficult to know for certain if a person has impaired awareness and in these cases a focal seizure can be described by the motor symptoms which the person may or may not experiences during a seizure. The Focal Aware Seizure replaces the previously used term “simple partial seizure,” while the Focal Impaired Awareness Seizure replaces the term “complex partial seizure.” Motor vs. Impaired Awareness Focal Seizuresįocal seizures are subdivided into categories depending on the person’s level of awareness: Aware vs. In most cases, Focal Onset Awareness Seizures can be further classified by the level of awareness a person has when they are experiencing the symptoms of a seizure, and on the seizure causes the individual to experience motor symptoms. UMASS Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, MA).The Laura Foundation for Epilepsy and Autism (Madison, NH).Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA).Little Angels Service Dogs (Bartlett, NH).EFNE Virtual Resource Room (Regionwide).Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, NH).

Boston Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA).

Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, MA).

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country (Franconia, NH).

Types of seizures and durations