Seizures ("fits," convulsions) are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention or behavior. They are caused by abnormally excited electrical signals in the brain.
Sometimes seizures are related to a temporary condition, such as exposure to drugs, withdrawal from certain drugs, or abnormal levels of sodium or glucose in the blood. In the repeated seizures do not happen again once the underlying problem is corrected, the person does NOT have epilepsy.
In other cases, injury to the brain (for example, stroke or head injury) causes brain tissue to be abnormally excitable. In some people, an inherited abnormality affects nerve cells in the brain, which leads to seizures. In these cases, the seizures happen spontaneously, without an immediate cause. This IS epilepsy.
Some seizures are idiopathic, which means the cause cannot be identified. These seizures usually begin between ages 5 and 20, but they can happen at any age. People with this condition have no other neurological problems, but sometimes have a family history of seizures or epilepsy.
Disorders affecting the blood vessels, such as stroke and TIA, are the most common cause of seizures after age 60. Illnesses that cause the brain to deteriorate and dementia such as Alzheimer's diesease, can also lead to seizures.
Some of the more common causes of epilepsy include:
Problems during the development of the baby in the womb.
Petit mal seizure (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A petit mal seizure is a temporary disturbance of brain function caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and characterized by abrupt, short-term lack of conscious activity ("absence) or other abnormal change in behavior. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/07/2006
Seizures(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior due to an excessive electrical activity in the brain. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
Partial (focal) seizure (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A partial seizure is an episode of abnormal electrical activity in one specific part of the brain. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/07/2006
Convulsions (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Convulsions are when a person's body shakes rapidly and uncontrollably. During convulsions, the person's muscles contract and relax repeatedly. The term "convulsion" is often used interchangeably with "seizure," although there are many types of seizure, some of which have subtle or mild symptoms instead of convulsions. Seizures of all types are caused by disorganized and sudden electrical activity in the brain. Reviewer: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/16/2007
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