Signs of Seizures in Children

More than three million Americans suffer from epilepsy, and while this medical problem can occur at any age, most new diagnoses occur in children. Epilepsy, a disease that affects the central nervous system, causes electrical signals in the brain to misfire, and this often results in seizures. For many children, seizures are outgrown by the time they reach their teens or early adulthood.

If your child experiences seizures, it can be scary. However, recognizing seizures quickly when they occur is important so you can keep your child safe. Here’s a closer look at what causes seizures, the main types of seizures and helpful signs you can use for recognizing seizures in children.

What Causes a Seizure?

Seizures take place when abnormal electrical activity occurs in the brain. Normally, electrical activity occurs in the brain in which neurons in various areas of the brain send out signals at different times. However, when seizures occur, multiple neurons are firing all at once. This results in an abnormal pattern of electrical activity within the brain. Depending on the part of the brain that is involved, the symptoms may vary. While seizures are often caused by epilepsy, other medical problems can also cause seizures, such as accidental poisoning, head injuries, brain tumors, high fevers, and infections.

Two Types of Seizures

While there are multiple types of generalized seizures, the most common types of seizures seen in children are grand mal seizures and absence seizures. The grand mal seizure is the most dramatic and most common type of seizure and generally involves a loss of consciousness that is followed by the stiffening of the body. Violent jerking often follows, and then patients often go into a deep sleep. Absence seizures can be more difficult to detect. They often involve a loss of consciousness for only a few seconds, and few or no symptoms may be detected. In most cases, children are not even aware that they have a seizure when an absence seizure occurs.

Recognizing Seizures in Children: Know the Signs

Recognizing seizures in children is essential, so you need to be aware of the signs your child is experiencing a seizure. Some of the signs a grand mal or absence seizure could be occurring in your child include:

• Convulsions, jerking movements, or tremors of the legs and arms
• Staring into space blankly (At unpredictable times. While speaking, for example)
• Problems breathing
• Losing consciousness
• Stiffening of the body
• Haze or confusion
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Periods of staring or rapid blinking
• Nodding of the head
• Changes in speech or vision
• Not responding to words or noise for a short time
• Suddenly falling for no reason
• Rolling eyes
• Sudden interruption of an activity

When a seizure occurs, it’s essential to stay calm so you can keep your child safe. Make sure your child is laid down aware from stairs, furniture, or sharp, hard objects. Place something soft beneath your child’s head if possible. Turn the child on his right side, allowing any excess fluid in the mouth to come out. Avoid restraining your child and never stick anything in his mouth. Note what happens during the seizure and how long it lasts so you can give this information to a doctor. While seizures generally are not life threatening, if your child has difficulty breathing or the seizure lasts for more than five minutes, get emergency medical attention.

If your child has epilepsy and experiences seizures, the care of an experienced neurologist is important. It’s also essential to seek neurological care if your child has experienced a seizure for the very first time. Make sure your child’s seizures are being treated effectively by booking your appointment with Complete Neurological Care and our dedicated pediatric neurologist Dr. Maja Ilic.