Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain and nervous system in which seizures (a loss of control over some body functions resulting from an abnormal electrical discharge from brain cells) occur randomly and repeatedly. In some people, they will experience an "aura", or a signal that a seizure is about to begin. Some people will see flashing lights, cry out, smell an unusual odor or even hear musical sounds.
About 50 million people world-wide have seizures, 75% of which have them before age 18. 5% of children will have a febrile, or fever-induced seizure, and 4% of these children will develop epilepsy.

Some causes of seizures are:

Birth and prenatal injuries Cerebral hemmorage Stroke Hypertension Head Trauma

Infection Genetic Brain Tumors Poisons Unknown (many seizures fall into this category)

Some triggers of seizures are:

Flashing light Exhaustion Poor nutrition, alcohol or drugs

Constipation Heat Emotional condition (stress, anger, anxiety, fear, etc.) Fever

The most common type people associate with seizures is the tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure, where the entire body is affected, but there are several other types.

• Grand Mal or Tonic-Clonic: The person may cry out suddenly and fall; their body will become stiff and have jerking movements, shallow breathing or cyanosis (bluish skin, lips) and sometimes loss of bladder or bowel control. The seizures usually last a few minutes. Normal breathing will resume. The person may be confused and very tired afterwards.

• Petit Mal or Absence: This seizure may look like the person is daydreaming and they may smack their lips, chew or blink rapidly. The seizure usually only lasts a few seconds, but the person will not be aware of what is going on during the seizure.

• Complex Partial Seizures: The person may at first stare blankly, then chew, then start doing things at random. He or she may be confused, pick at things, mumble, and be unaware of his or her surroundings. He or she may run away, act frightened, and may try to get loose if restrained. These seizures may last a few minutes, but the person may be confused for quite awhile afterwards. He or she will have no recollection of what happened during the seizure.

• Simple Partial Seizure: The person will be conscious at first and may have jerkiness in a part of the body. They will sometimes develop into convulsions.

• Atonic Seizure: The individual will suddenly collapse (sometimes called "drop attack"). Within a minute, they will recover, get up and walk around.

• Myclonic Seizure: This seizure involves large, jerky movements of the muscles affecting the whole body, for a brief amount of time.

Tonic/Clonic seizures:
1.If possible, note the time when the seizure begins.
2.Lay the person down.
3.Turn the person on their side in case they vomit to prevent aspiration into the lungs.
4.Remove glasses, if any.
5.Place something under their head to prevent banging their head on the floor.
6.Loosen tight clothing around the neck and waist.
7.Stay nearby and let the seizure run its course.
8.If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or is followed shortly by another seizure, CALL AN AMBULANCE.
9.Note the time the seizure ended. Medical personnel may need to know this.

NOTE: NEVER put anything in the person's mouth. Their teeth are usually clenched and they may break whatever is in their mouth and choke. Also, it is impossible for someone to swallow their own tongue.

Absence Seizures
1. No medical attention is necessary.

Complex Partial
1.Stay with the person and guide them calmly away from danger.
2.DO NOT try to grab them unless they are in a threatening situation.
3.DO NOT restrain them.

Simple Partial
1.No medical attention is necessary. If they develop into convulsions, follow guidelines for Tonic/Clonic seizures.

Atonic Seizures
1.No medical attention is necessary unless the person was injured while falling.

Myclonic Seizures
1.No medical attention is necessary.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute the advice or examination of a medical doctor.