A seizure is a sudden change in behavior due to an excessive electrical activity in the brain.
Alternative Names:
Convulsions
Considerations:
There are a wide variety of possible symptoms of seizures, depending on what parts of the brain are affected. Many types of seizures cause loss of consciousness with twitching or shaking of the body. However, some seizures consist of staring spells that can easily go unnoticed. Occasionally, seizures can cause temporary abnormal sensations or visual disturbances.
Seizures can generally be classified as either "simple" (no change in level of consciousness) or "complex" (change in level of consciousness). Seizures may also be classified as generalized (whole body affected) or focal (only one part or side of the body is affected).
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder with recurrent seizures. Some types of epilepsy are hereditary.
Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: WB Saunders; 2003: 1158-1160.
Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002:145-149, 1445.
Review Date: 10/17/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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