A grand mal seizure, also called a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. These types of seizure generally consist of rigid and violently contracting muscles and a loss of consciousness. Grand mal seizures are sometimes referred to as seizures, convulsions or epilepsy. They can occur at any age as one episode, many episodes or as part of chronic seizure disorder such as epilepsy, according to Medline Plus. Complications usually consist of injuries associated with falling or the seizure itself.
Injury
Injury is a common complication of grand mal seizures, according to the MayoClinic.com. Injuries usually occur when someone falls and dislocates a joint or receives an injury or fracture to the head. Sometimes the seizure itself can cause biting of the tongue or cheek, a broken bone or other injuries as the muscles in the body violently contract. In severe cases, a person may hit her head when she falls, causing brain damage or death.
Drowning
A serious complication associated with grand mal seizures is drowning, according to the MayoClinic.com. People with grand mal seizures are more prone to drown while swimming or bathing than the general population due to the likelihood of having a seizure while in the water. It is advised that people with seizures wear life preserver vests when swimming and take showers instead of baths to reduce the chance of drowning.
Loss of Awareness
People with grand mal seizures may experience a loss of awareness as a result of abnormal electrical currents traveling through their brain, according to the MayoClinic.com. Driving a car can be dangerous because seizures can cause a person to blackout. If a person is driving a car in the middle of the seizure, he may unintentionally cause an accident that harms or kills himself or the person in the other car. Driving restrictions are enforced in many states limiting driving time based on the frequency and severity of the seizures.
Sudden Unexplained Death
People with frequent grand mal seizures or tonic-clonic seizures have an elevated risk of dying suddenly with no explanation. Approximately 1 in 1,000 people with epileptic seizures die from this condition, but it is more common among people whose seizures are poorly controlled, according to the MayoClinic.com. Sudden unexplained death can occur as a result of prolonged or continuous seizure activity.
