generalized tonic-clonic seizure

Seizures are caused by sudden, spontaneous discharges of electrical impulses from brain cells that can spread to other brain cells. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were formerly called grand mal seizures and result when these spontaneous discharges are diffuse, involving both sides of the brain.

 

Neurons are the nerve cells within the brain. They coordinate movement, thinking, personality, and sensory activities. Neurons communicate with each other through electrical discharges. A seizure occurs when excitable neurons give off abnormal electrical discharges.

 

There are different types of seizures depending on where the excitable neurons are located and by the symptoms and signs they cause.. Epilepsy is diagnosed when an individual has a repeating pattern of seizures.

 

Seizures are divided into two main types: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures affect the entire brain. The person loses consciousness or awareness of the environment. Partial seizures affect only one part of the brain. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures affect the whole brain.

 

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures often have the following characteristics:

 

Seizures have many causes; however, the causes of generalized seizure typically include: failure to take prescription anti-seizure medications as directed, in an individual with a known seizure disordergeneralization of a partial seizure due to the spread of the abnormal electrical discharge to both sides of the brain metabolic disturbances such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and electrolyte disturbances such as low sodium, calcium, or magnesiumalcohol or drug use or withdrawalchromosomal abnormalitiescongenital diseases or conditionsacute, severe high blood pressurepregnancy and its complicationsadvanced liver diseaseAlzheimer's disease or other types of dementiahereditary diseasesinfections involving the brain, including encephalitis, brain abscess, and bacterial meningitiskidney failure, such as chronic renal failurehypoxic/anoxic injury during birth or in the uteruspoisonous insect bites or stingshigh fever, especially in young childrenlead poisoningoverheatingthyroid diseasewithdrawal from some medicines, including those used to treat seizures

For individuals with a known seizure history, adhering to the anti-seizure medication regimen prescribed by the healthcare professional is the best prevention. Proper management of conditions such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, kidney disease, and liver disease can help prevent seizures related to complications from these disorders.

Diagnosis of seizures begins with a medical history and physical exam. The healthcare professional will ask about contributing illnesses or injuries. An electroencephalogram (r EEG) will be ordered. An EEG measures electrical activity within the brain. If a seizure occurs during the EEG, the abnormal activity can be detected. However, a normal EEG does not rule out seizures simply because it may not have been done at the time seizure activity was occurring.