A seizure interferes with the brain's electrical activity and causes temporary side effects that point to signs of seizure activity. While some patients undergo loss of consciousness or severe shaking, others simply stop all movement and are unaware of what is going on, report researchers at Merck. The epileptic seizure has no apparent cause and is characterized by repeated episodes, while the non-epileptic seizure is caused by some trauma, disease or infection. The signs of seizure activity vary.
Auras
It is not uncommon for a seizure to be preceded by unusual sensations called auras. They might be in the form of noticeable odors or unusual unpleasant tastes, an impending sense of doom or a nervous feeling in the stomach. Hallucinations of unformed shapes also are common precursors to a seizure. Sometimes seizure activity is preceded by the inability to form words or speak. Researchers at Merck report that close to 20 percent of people who have a seizure experience auras prior to the event. During the auras, which typically lasts from one to two minutes, patients begin to lose touch with their surroundings and may begin to stare or smack their lips.
Spasms
Spasms that look like jerking body movements can indicate the onset of a seizure when both sides of the brain are undergoing electrical disturbances. The loss of muscle control may cause the patient to lose control of the bladder. Other may begin to drool. The spasms may be preceded by numbness or tingling in various parts of the body. Jerking and shaking can be over the entire body or just affect a limb or the head. Symptoms can start in one part of the body and spread. Hands, arms or legs may move in uncoordinated motions. As a seizure spreads, patients may fall down. Many people clench their teeth and tongue biting is a common occurrence for those in the throws of a seizure. While most seizures are short-lived, as short as a couple of minutes, more severe seizures don't stop and the spasms worsen, accompanied by breathing difficulties and rising body temperature.
Confusion
Patients often are unresponsive during a seizure or they can seem confused and disoriented. While some people lose consciousness during a seizure, others remain completely awake. During a seizure, patients may utter unrecognizable sounds or not understand what they are being told. In their confusion, people undergoing seizure activity may become stubborn and resist assistance. Most patients do not remember what they said or did during a seizure. An absence seizure, also called a petit mal seizure, can last for as little as ten to 15 seconds and just appears as if the person has spaced out for a moment, returning to normal activities right away, report doctors at the National Institutes of Health. The petit mal seizure is most common in patients under the age of 20 and can occur repeatedly throughout the day.
