What Causes Seizures?

The minutest gesture that we make is dependent on the neurons or nerve cells that process and transmit information contained in the electrical impulses to the brain, which then sends electrical signals to other parts of the body through nerves.

The term 'seizure' refers to the sudden physical signs or changes in the behavior that occur due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The onset could be triggered by a head injury, degenerative disease, genetic disorders, or other brain malfunctions.

Seizures could be categorized into generalized and partial. The former occurs due to abnormal electrical activity on both sides of the brain, and might be characterized by symptoms such as loss of consciousness, muscle stiffness, sudden jerky movements, or convulsions.

To any observer, the sporadic jerks might seem like electric shocks. The person could eventually collapse, or even injure himself/herself due to a bad fall.

The loss of control could lead to tongue biting or urinary incontinence. Generally, it is advised to keep a soft folded cloth between the tongue and teeth to avoid injury to the tongue. The second type occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in just a part of the brain. The symptoms include jerks, spasms, emotional disturbances, memory issues, strange sensory sensations, and repetitive movements.

In case of adults, abnormal electrical activity in the brain could be caused due to the following conditions:

Degenerative disorders like tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, phenylketonuria, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Creutzfeld-Jacob disease could be the contributing factors.

Brain injury, brain tumor, limited oxygen supply to the brain, intracranial hemorrhage, or stroke could also lead to misfiring of electrical impulses. Other causes include infections such as AIDS, tetanus, rabies, meningitis, malaria, abscess, syphilis, viral encephalitis, or brain edema.

Metabolic disorders that are characterized by altered levels of electrolytes such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium, which in turn could lead to seizures. Other contributing factors include renal failure, liver failure, abnormally high or low sugar.

Sudden withdrawal from sedatives, cocaine, alcohol, addictive substances, etc., could also cause such episodes.

In most cases, doctors might not find a specific cause. The episodes could occur within 28 days of birth. Children could experience an episode due to high fever or an underlying medical condition. The contributing factors include:

• Genetic disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Head trauma
• Meningitis
• Metabolic disorder
• Bleeding inside the brain

Not every episode is characterized by jerky movements; the child might become silent and look blank in case of an absence seizure. This type could last for a few seconds. During that time, the child is completely unaware of his surroundings. Status epilepticus is another type could last longer than 30 minutes.

Diagnostic tests such as an EEG, analysis of the symptoms and the family history, etc., can help the doctors determine the type of seizure. Thereafter, they can prescribe suitable drugs or other treatment options.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this write-up is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.