Seizure

A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, sensations, or awareness. Symptoms range from brief staring spells to full-body convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Seizures may be caused by epilepsy, head injury, stroke, brain infection, brain tumor, or metabolic problems such as low blood sugar or electrolyte imbalance. In children, high fever can trigger febrile seizures. Risk factors include a family history of seizures, dementia, alcohol misuse, and certain medications or drug withdrawal.

Call emergency services if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes, if multiple seizures occur without recovery in between, or if the episode is followed by breathing difficulty or injury. First-time seizures or unexplained recurrent seizures should always be evaluated by a neurologist.