Overview

• Seizure: Sudden, excessive, spontaneous discharge of neurons.
• Can involve abnormal movements, sensations, or altered consciousness.

Triggers of Seizures

• Irritation of neurons, which can be caused by:
  • Inflammation.
  • Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation).
  • Bleeding in the brain.
  • Drugs or alcohol.
  • High fever (febrile seizures).
  • Sleep deprivation.
  • Infection.
  • Electrolyte imbalances.

Distinction Between Seizures and Epilepsy

• Seizure:
  • An episodic, abnormal neuronal excitation and discharge.
  • Occurs once or sporadically, often due to an identifiable cause.
• Epilepsy:
  • A chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures.
  • No known cause (idiopathic).
  • Seizures happen spontaneously without external triggers.

Clinical Presentation

• Seizures are not always convulsions:
  • Repetitive movements:
    • Muscle contractions (tonic-clonic).
  • Altered consciousness:
    • Fully aware or impaired.
• Aura (prodromal event):
  • A warning sign.
  • Unusual smells, visions, or sensations.
• Still seizures:
  • No movement, just abnormal sensations or emotional feelings.
  • Example: being “spaced out” with hallucinations.

Duration and Risks

• Prolonged seizures:
  • Cause hypoxia:
    • Neurons quickly consume oxygen and glucose.
    • Risk of neuron death.
  • Urgent treatment required.

Classification of Seizures

1. General (Global) Seizures

• Affect entire brain.
• Usually lose consciousness.
• May involve:
  • Tonic-clonic seizures: stiffening (tonus) and jerking (clonus).
  • Fall and confusion.
• Example: Grand mal seizures.

2. Focal (Partial) Seizures

• Involve specific brain areas.
• Awareness varies:
  • Impaired consciousness.
  • Full awareness.
• Symptoms depend on the affected brain region:
  • Simple focal: strange sensations, emotions, or visual disturbances.
  • Complex focal: altered awareness, confusion.
  • May zone out for a few minutes.
  • Can spread to become generalized.

Signs and Symptoms

• Range from temporary sensations to full-body convulsions, and can include:
  • Repetitive muscle contractions.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Strange sensations — smells, visions, sounds.
  • Falls or loss of balance.
  • Confusion or dazed look.
  • Anxiety or emotional disturbances.

Summary

• Seizures stem from abnormal neuronal activity influenced by various triggers.
• Range from temporary sensations to full-body convulsions.
• Urgent intervention is critical for prolonged or severe seizures.
• Accurate classification (focal vs. generalized) informs treatment strategies.