Some children have Epilepsy or Seizures as a consequence of neurological disease or injury. They may be present at birth or develop over time.
Seizures are episodic, uncontrolled bursts of nerve activity in the brain. A seizure is one single episode of this burst of brain activity.
Epilepsy is an ongoing condition where nerve activity in the brain is disrupted. Two or more seizures at least twenty-four hours apart are considered to be epilepsy. Epilepsy is the diagnosis of a series of seizures.
Often, tone or spasms may be confused with seizures. Tone is the updated word for the familiar term spasms. Tone (spasm) is the involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. It typically has a rhythmic pattern that can be mistaken for seizures. However, with tone, the issue is local to that particular body part although tone can engulf the entire body. With tone or spasms, mental activity is not affected as with a seizure. It is best to have the input of a healthcare professional to determine if tone or a seizure is occurring.
Seizures are due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Common causes of seizures in children include high fever or infection, metabolic or chemical imbalances, birth trauma, head injury including concussion, stroke, degenerative brain disorders, brain tumor, congenital and genetic conditions, illness during pregnancy, poisoning, alcohol, drugs, some reactions to prescription medications, among others. Sometimes, the source of a seizure is unknown.
Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain. These may appear as absence seizures which include rapid blinking or staring into space. Tonic-clonic seizures may include crying out, loss of consciousness, falling, and muscle jerks and spasms generally throughout the body.
Focal seizures arise in one area of the brain. Simple focal seizures may produce a twitch in the body, a change in sensation, or an odd taste or smell. These types of seizures are most often confused as tone (spasms). Complex focal seizures lead to the inability to respond for several minutes. Secondary generalized seizures begin in one part of the brain but spread throughout the body or become a generalized seizure.