Convulsions: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cost, and Side Effects

The term convulsion refers to an episode in which a person experiences uncontrolled muscle contractions. In this medical condition, body muscles are involuntarily contracted and relaxed due to disruption of nerve cell activity in the brain.

This results in painful, uncontrollable shaking and irregular movements. In most cases, the spasms last for about a minute or two. In medicine, convulsions are characterised by uncontrollable muscle spasms.

Often, people confuse convulsions with seizures as they have similar symptoms. Some people may have seizures that cause convulsions, but it is not always the case. Convulsions are bursts of electric shocks in the brain. It is sometimes not clear why a convulsion occurs.

There are many factors that may lead to convulsions, including an illness, reaction to drugs or medications or due to some other medical conditions.

The symptoms of convulsions are usually obvious. There may be episodes that affect the entire body or just one part, such as a leg or arm. This could last for a few seconds or last for an extended period, increasing the risk of injury. Common symptoms of convulsions are:

• Uncontrollable jerking and spasms in the body
• Shaking of the entire body in a sudden manner
• An overall rigidity of the body
• Having a clenched jaw
• The eyes often roll back in the head
• The face appears to be red or blue
• A loss of control over bowels or bladders
• Inability to breathe or gagging
• The person might become unconscious or black out completely for a couple of minutes

Many different factors can lead to convulsions. A few of these are:

• It is caused by aneurysms, which are enlargements or bulges within an artery's walls.
• In case of cancer or brain tumors
• In the case of cerebral hypoxia, in which sufficient oxygen does not reach the brain.
• If a patient suffered severe concussions or any traumatic brain injuries in the past.
• If the person suffers from degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's or frontotemporal dementia.
• If the person takes excessive drugs or alcohol (including prescription medications, recreational drugs, as well as caffeine).
• Alcohol withdrawal or drug addiction.
• In case of eclampsia, a condition in which pregnant women experience seizures due to high blood pressure.
• High fevers
• A sensitivity to flashing or flickering lights.
• In case of genetic disorders, a condition that you inherit from one or both parents at birth.
• In case of mental health problems such as conversion disorder (referred to as psychogenic seizures).

Dos

• Take regular medications, if any. Convulsions are helped by anti-epileptic medications. Stopping medications without consulting a doctor is not a good idea. Not taking the medications regularly increases the risks of convulsions.
• Take enough rest and avoid stress. There is a possibility that stress can trigger convulsions. Practicing meditation daily, getting sufficient sleep and rest, and avoiding excessive work may help reduce your stress and help you deal with convulsions better.

• Don’t Consume alcohol.The risk of seizures is increased when drinking alcohol for people dealing with convulsions. It may be beneficial for you to avoid alcohol in order to reduce the risks of future episodes.
• Don’t skip a meal. When you skip a meal, you may experience hypoglycemia, which can cause convulsions, especially if you are diabetic.
• Maintaining a consistent meal schedule and carrying fast-acting glucose sources is a good practice for diabetics. This may help reduce the possibilities of an episode of convulsion.

The doctor will first study the patient's medical history and consider any other symptoms the patient may have before performing a physical examination to determine the cause of the convulsion. After that, a focus will likely be placed on neurological causes and conditions that might cause abnormal brain activity.

Neurological Exam

• Doctors can determine whether a convulsion was caused by a central nervous system issue by conducting a neurological examination.
• There are several tests involved in a neurological examination, including the assessment of mental status, motor function, balance, coordination, reflexes, and sensory responses.7
• These tests are performed in an office, using instruments like pens or reflex hammers.

• Convulsive episodes can sometimes be caught by EEG during an overnight hospital stay. EEGs are electroencephalogram
• Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are non-invasive tests that measure electrical activity in the brain. They are most commonly ordered in cases where a neurologic disorder is suspected.
• It is possible to diagnose epilepsy, a brain injury, a brain tumor or another neurological disorder based on certain abnormal brain patterns.

• There may be a need to perform blood tests to determine if an infection is present, if electrolyte imbalances exist, and how much inflammation is present in the body. It may also be necessary to order a drug toxicology report.
• Blood tests measuring prolactin levels will be ordered by the doctor if convulsion or epilepsy is suspected.

A brain imaging study may detect brain lesions, tumors, bleeding, clots, or a subdural effusion (an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the skull) as well as bleeding and clots. The choice of study depends on the suspected cause and may include:

• Computerised tomography (CT): This type of imaging uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional views of the brain.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An imaging technique using powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain.
• Positron emission tomography (PET): This procedure involves injecting low-dose radioactive materials into veins in order to detect metabolic abnormalities that may be indicative of cancer.

Convulsions are sudden involuntary muscle spasms and cannot be identified at home beforehand. It is easy to identify symptoms of convulsions when someone is experiencing it. However, medical tests and doctor consultations are important to diagnose convulsions.

Dietary Supplements
Among the earliest remedies for convulsions were dietary supplements. Some dietary changes can prove to be beneficial at reducing the chances of convulsions. It is beneficial for children and adults alike. It is possible to reduce seizures by following a ketogenic diet. Additionally, the Atkins diet can reduce convulsion symptoms due to its high protein content.

Herbal Treatments
Herbs such as chamomile, passionflower, and valerian can be beneficial for regulating electronic signals and reduce the risks of convulsions. There are no side effects associated with it, and the patients may see significant results. Experts also recommend using these herbs in conjunction with AED to speed up and improve recovery.

Vitamins
It is possible to suffer repetitive convulsions if your vitamin B6 level is low. Insufficient vitamin B6 can lead to convulsions, so increasing vitamin B6 can help reduce them. Taking vitamins such as vitamin E and magnesium may also help control seizures.

Relaxation

Stress can be a major factor to trigger convulsions. Someone suffering from convulsions should avoid stress and excessive work. A good way to eliminate stress and anxiety is through rest. It can relax muscles, calm the nerves, and calm down a person. Aromatherapies and meditations can also be very helpful to keep one calm and relaxed.

Convulsions usually last for about a couple of minutes. A person must be given immediate medical help in case they are having an uncontrollable convulsion that has exceeded more than 5 minutes. There are many factors that trigger convulsions, therefore in some cases patients may stop experiencing episodes of convulsions over time, however medical help is required if the condition persists.

People with epilepsy may avoid certain foods after experiencing convultions multiple times if they bear witness to eating particular food items before experiencing seizures. Everyone goes through a different experience during an episode of convulsion. Despite a lack of evidence to suggest that any particular food type causes seizures, eating in control can certainly help prevent them. However, there are certain foods that might be helpful and food that is best avoided by someone who often experiences convulsions.

• Unrefined carbohydrates
• Lean protein
• Healthy Fat
• Water and healthy fluids

Although there is no proven evidence of any specific food that might be causing or triggering convulsions. Nevertheless, there are some food that may potentially increase the risks of convulsions, these include:

• Gluten
• Soy products
• Refined sugar
• Dairy products
• Caffeine

Getting a treatment for the factors that usually trigger your convulsions can help get rid of the condition. Medications may be recommended if the underlying condition isn't curable or treatable to reduce how severe and frequent seizures are.

It's usually not recommended to treat an unprovoked convulsion if it's a first time experience. Since there's no certainty that the person will experience another episode, it's best to keep that in mind. A person with status epilepticus or someone at a high risk of having another seizure will be exempt from that rule.

The importance of stopping status epilepticus cannot be overstated because it can result in permanent brain damage or death. You can be evaluated by a healthcare provider for a higher risk of having another seizure based on your medical history and tests like an EEG, CT scan, or MRI scan.

In most cases an episode of convulsions does not last more than a couple of minutes, therefore it is very crucial to provide urgent medical help to anyone experiencing convulsions for more than 4-5 minutes.

You may initially consult your family doctor or a general physician to identify your condition and issues. Then you may be referred to a specialist such as a neurologist or epileptologist.

Usually patients suffering from regular episodes of epilepsy or seizures are given anti-epileptic, which helps reduce the risk of convulsions.

People who suffer from convulsions tend to have recurrent spontaneous seizures following a seizure, but most people do not.

Seizures that happen more often than usual, recur frequently, or happen for the first time should be seen by a doctor. However there are a few non surgical ways that can help with your convulsions.

• AED medications
• Lifestyle changes
• Ketogenic diet
• Anti-epileptic medications

Convulsions result from abnormal firing of certain brain cells (neurons). Surgery depends on where the neurons that trigger seizures are located and the patient's age. There are several types of surgery, including:

• Resective surgery: A small portion of the brain is removed during resection surgery, the most common epilepsy surgery. Surgery involves removing brain tissues from the area of the brain where seizures occur, usually the site of a tumor, brain injury, or malformation. An area of the temporal lobe controlled by visual memory, language comprehension, and emotion is typically operated on in resective surgery.
• Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) : A laser allows a small portion of brain tissue to be pinpointed and destroyed with less invasive techniques. Laser surgery is guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Deep brain stimulation : An implantable device, permanently implanted deep inside the brain, releases electrical signals at regular intervals that disrupt abnormal, seizure-inducing activity. Additionally, MRIs are used for this procedure.
• Corpus callosotomy : An operation that involves the removal of part of the brain that connects the right side of the brain with the left.(corpus callosum). Usually, this treatment is used for children whose brain activity spreads across two sides.
• Hemispherectomy : A hemisphere (half of the brain) is removed (cerebral cortex) through this procedure. Seizures occurring from multiple sites in one hemisphere are generally treated with this surgery. This usually results from a condition presenting in the newborn or infancy period.
• Functional hemispherectomy : This is a procedure for removing nerve connections without removing actual brain tissue. It is primarily performed on children.

There are three stages of an epilepsy or convulsion surgery:

Before the procedure
It is necessary to clip the patient's hair short or shave their head over the section of your skull that will be removed during the surgery to prevent any kind of infection. As part of the surgery, fluids, anesthetics, and other medications will be administered through a small, flexible tube called intravenous access.

During the procedure
The surgeon will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels throughout the operation. It is also possible that an EEG monitor will record your brain waves during the surgery in order to identify which part of your brain is causing the convulsions.

A general anesthesia is usually used for epilepsy surgery, which means you'll be unconscious throughout the operation. You may be awakened during part of the operation by the doctor to determine which parts of your brain control language and movement. A pain medication would be administered in such cases.

It depends on the type of surgery that the surgeon performs, but a relatively small opening is created in the skull. As part of the healing process after surgery, a window of bone is replaced and fastened to the remaining skull.After the procedure.

As you wake up from anesthesia, you will be carefully monitored in a recovery area. If you are in an intensive care unit the first night after surgery, you might need to stay there overnight. In most cases, it takes three to four days for most of the convulsion or epilepsy surgeries to be completed.

The swelling and pain in your head will persist when you're awake. Narcotic medications are typically needed for the first few days following surgery to relieve pain. It may also be beneficial to apply an ice pack to your head. Within several weeks, most swelling and pain associated with postoperative surgery will disappear.

For approximately one to three months after your surgery, you won't be able to return to your regular work schedule. You should avoid stressful and strenuous work for the first few weeks after convulsion surgery. It is important to take enough rest and relax, for a better recovery. You may gradually increase your daily activities.

If the surgery was successful and no complications such as a stroke or loss of speech occurred, you probably wouldn't need intensive rehabilitation.

There is a wide range of prices for convulsion surgeries in India, it may range from INR 2,00000 to INR 2,50,000.

It usually takes about 4 hours for the surgery to be completed. In the days following surgery, the patient is asked to stay in the hospital under observation to make sure there's no risk of any serious side effects. The patient will take about 4-6 weeks to recover completely and can get back to their normal work routine.

The result of the treatment relies on the type of treatment and surgery that is carried out. The results are not the same for everyone, it is different for every individual. Convulsion or epilepsy surgeries cannot ensure permanent, however it might help control seizures with conjunction to medications.

In most cases it may take upto 4-6 weeks to completely recover from an epilepsy or convulsion surgery. However, following some post-treatment guidelines may improve the condition and help with the recovery.

• Take enough rest for about 2-3 months after your surgery, before returning to your regular work routine.
• Avoid drinking excessive alcohol
• Include vitamins and nutrients to your diet
• Regularly take your medications if you have any
• Don’t take up excessive work stress

Patients' experiences and treatments for convulsions vary, as do the risks associated with them. Convulsion or epilepsy surgery carries different risks based on the type of surgery performed on the patient. Removing part of the temporal lobe is a common type of convulsion or epilepsy surgery. Risks commonly associated with it include:

• Memory issues
• The loss of some peripheral vision
• The presence of double vision
• Experiencing Mood swings
• Decreased motor skills
• Problems with speech

You may minimise the chances of side effects and risks associated with the surgery under the supervision of experienced surgeons and at Pristyn Care we provide you with experts and some of the most experienced surgeons.

Convulsions can be dangerous, so it's important to make sure that a person having an episode of convulsion is safe. In case of uncontrollable convulsions for more than 3-4 minutes, an ambulance must be called as soon as possible.

A physician needs to be consulted if convulsions occur regularly.

Convulsions are caused by a variety of conditions, some of which pass with age, while others require medical help to prevent or reduce them. Regardless of the diagnosis, a doctor will help develop a well fitted treatment plan designed to the patient's needs.