Febrile Seizures

• A seizure caused by a high fever is called a febrile seizure and generally occurs in children under the age of five. The child's temperature usually shoots up to 102 degree Fahrenheit (or higher) very quickly. The child will probably shake and tighten her muscles. Her eyes may roll back into her head, and she may even lose consciousness. The child might moan, vomit or cry. The seizure generally causes no lasting medical problems, but it is frightening for anyone watching. Call your doctor right away, as it may be related to meningitis or another serious infection.
  
  

Frontal Lobe Seizures

• Most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes. Different symptoms occur depending on what part of the brain is functioning abnormally.
  
  If the part of the brain that controls speech (frontal lobe) is affected then you may not be able to speak or have difficulty speaking. You may scream, laugh or slur your speech.
  
  

Grand Mal Seizures

• When large areas of the brain are affected you will have convulsions or uncontrolled jerking and spasms. These seizures are usually considered grand mal seizures. Grand mal seizures are usually caused by epilepsy, but can also be caused by low blood sugar, stroke, or drug overdose. The seizure possibly starts with loss of consciousness (tonic phase). The clonic phase follows, when the sufferer will start to go into convulsions, fall down and experience spasms, flail his arms and legs and possibly tighten and clench his muscles. He may have other symptoms like tightening and clenching his teeth, biting his tongue, drooling and losing bladder control.
  
  

Petit Mal Seizure

• Another type of seizure is called an absence, or petit mal seizure. The symptoms are just the opposite of grand mal seizures. The person will sit and stare; it seems she is completely unaware of everyone and everything around her . Her facial muscles may twitch and her eyelids flutter. It could last up to 30 seconds. Usually the person has no idea that she was having the seizure and just continues to do what she was doing before it occurred. Like all seizures, these are most dangerous if you are driving or doing any activity where you must pay attention.
  
  

First Aid for Seizures

• If someone has a seizure in your presence; stay calm, clear the area of items they could hit or pull down on them, call for emergency medical help if needed, don't restrain their movement, don't try to hold their tongue or put anything in their mouth (they will probably bite you). After the seizure roll them onto their side in case they vomit.
  
  

Medications Can Control Seizures

• Many medications are available to control seizures. Talk to your doctor to find a medication that controls your seizures best but has the least side effects.