These are seizures that occur when there is some underlying disease (infection, trauma). They disappear after the cure of the underlying disease. Such convulsions include convulsions with sodium deficiency (excess), convulsions with meningitis and encephalitis, with a deficiency of glucose or with the accumulation of certain metabolic products in the body. A special form of seizures is febrile convulsions.
They are found in children. In the treatment it is important to find out whether the child is suffering from epilepsy. The fact is that the drugs prescribed for epilepsy are completely ineffective in the treatment of seizures of other etiologies and can even cause side effects.
On a note.
Parents of the child who has suffered seizures should accurately describe to the doctor all the circumstances associated with the seizure. These observations are valuable information for the doctor. Along with other tests and tests, they will facilitate the doctor's diagnosis of the disease.
Febrile convulsions
In some children, an infection accompanied by fever (sore throat, viral infection, pneumonia) can cause seizures. A sharp increase in body temperature also contributes to the onset of seizures. It is not known why these seizures
some children are, but others do not. It is believed that an important role is played by hereditary predisposition. Symptoms of an attack of febrile seizures are the same as those of an epileptic fit: the child loses consciousness, tonic-clonic convulsions begin. Later, he has no memories of a seizure. On average, febrile convulsions last 5-15 minutes, although longer periods are possible. Previously, febrile seizures were not considered dangerous, but today it is already known that sometimes they contribute to the development of residual phenomena. Therefore, the child should be shown to a neurologist (a specialist in nerve diseases) if: the first seizure of febrile seizures manifested itself in the first six months of a child's life or after four years; the duration of the attack lasts more than 30 minutes; the child had more than three seizures of febrile seizures; During pregnancy or childbirth, predisposing factors were noted; After an attack of febrile seizures, the child's psychomotor development slowed; Attacks in the child begin at a relatively low body temperature (below 38.5 "C).
Tetany.
Aetania is a disease characterized by convulsive seizures associated with low calcium levels in the blood. Previously, it was common, mostly in children with rickets. However, in view of the fact that children began to prescribe vitamin D prophylactically, today rickets are observed much less often than before, and therefore the number of cases of tetany has also decreased. Other causes of childhood tetany - kidney and thyroid disease, poisoning, as well as some congenital metabolic disorders. Usually during an acute attack of tetany, the child's consciousness is not disturbed. Spasm covers the symmetrical muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities, less often there is a twitching of the mouse face and trunk. Laryngospasm (sudden narrowing of the glottis) is also possible. Depending on which groups of muscles are contracting, characteristic postures of the body appear, for example, the "hand of the obstetrician" or the nodding movements. Then the phase of tonic convulsions begins.
Thus, during an attack of tetany, it may appear that there is an epileptic seizure.
Convulsions with sodium deficiency (excess).
The sodium content in the blood changes due to prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. The consequences of this for newborns can be very serious, but because of the excox (dehydration of the body), older children and adults are at risk. As a result, against the background of progressive weakness and apathy, local (localized) or general (generalized) convulsions appear. A child has a coma. Therefore, the child's parents should ensure that during vomiting and diarrhea the child takes a sufficient amount of liquid, thus compensating for her deficiency. If vomiting increases, the child must be taken to the doctor.
Diseases that can cause seizures.
Local or generalized convulsions can begin because of any trauma or brain disease. Seizures are often observed in cases of poisoning (for example, alcohol). In addition, there are several rare metabolic disorders, because of which convulsive seizures occur even in newborns.