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NBCOT Study Cards
Seizure Disorders
8
Other
Professional
09/17/2007

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Term
tonic-clonic seizures
Definition
aka grand mal seizures

most common type in children

tonic phase: loss of consciousness, stiffening of body, heavy and irregular breathing, drooling, skin pallor, occasional bladder and bowel incontinence for a few seconds

clonic phase: alternating rigidity and relaxation of muscles

postictal state follows the clonic phase (includes period of drowsiness, disorientation or fatigue)
Term
Myoclonic-akinetic seizures
Definition
brief, involuntary jerking of extremities, with or without loss of consciousness

akinetic seizures include loss of tone

difficult to control
Term
absence seizures
Definition
aka petit mal seizures

occur between ages of 4 and 12 years

loss of consciousness without loss of muscle tone occurs

child does not fall down, but does not recall episode or any lapse in time
Term
simple partial seizures
Definition
abnormal electrical impulses occur in localized area of brain (often in motor strip of frontal lobe)

involuntary, repetitive jerking of L hand and arm, but individual can maintain interaction with environment

may become generalized, result in a loss of consciousness
Term
complex partial or psychomotor seizures
Definition
symptoms vary

alteration in consciousness and unresponsiveness

automatic motions (lip smacking, chewing and swallowing, and nervous movement of hands/fingers, and repetitive movements occur)

visual or auditory sensations occur just before the seizure
Term
West syndrome
Definition
aka jackknife epilepsy, infantile myoclonic seizures

begins at 3 to 9 months

symptoms: dropping of head and flexion fo arms

may occur 100s of times/day

prognosis is generally poor
spasms sometimes decrease after several years, but are often replaced by other seizure disorders

these seizures often indicate an underlying disorder such as tuberous sclerosis
Term
Lennax-Gastaut syndrome
Definition
children with severe seizures, MR, specific EEG pattern

different types begin during the first 3 years of life and are difficult to control

associated with various brain disorders from structural abnormalities to birth asphyxia

a regression of developmental status can occur in some cases
Term
Simple febrile seizures
Definition
most common type (5 to 10% of children under age of 5)

precipitated by fever

last less than 10 minutes, loss of consciousness and involuntary, generalized jerking of grand mal seizure

usually do not cause damage and do not lead to epilepsy
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