Seizures or convulsions are caused by abnormal activity in the brain. The brain functions like an electrical system, so a seizure can be equated with a short-circuit of the system. Seizures manifest themselves as unusual activity in the body, from generalized shaking, to staring spells. There are several types of childhood seizures.
Febrile Seizures
These are the most common types of seizures in childhood. They typically occur in children between 6 months and 5 years of age. They present themselves as generalized shaking, with the child's eyes staring off into space, lasting a few minutes. After the seizure is over, children have what is called a post-ictal phase, where they may be unconscious or dazed and don't remember what happened. A rapid rise in the child's temperature triggers the febrile seizure. These are benign and children eventually outgrow them.
Petit Mal Seizures
These seizures, also know as absence seizures, appear as brief staring spells, where the child will stare off into space and not respond to verbal cues or any other stimuli. They usually occur in children between the ages of 6 to 12 years old. They may be so brief that no one notices until they start interfering with schoolwork or other activities. They are treated with anticonvulsant medication, but most children eventually outgrow them.
Infantile Spasms
These seizures occur in children less than 2 years old with the majority of babies showing their first symptoms between 3 to10 months of age. Babies suffer from what appear to be muscle spasms of the extremities and the trunk. Babies also lose some of the developmental milestones they have attained up to that point. Most children with infantile spasms get treated with the hormone ACTH.
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
This type of seizure usually starts at around 3 to 10 years of age, and most children outgrow it by the time they become adolescents. It is a partial seizure, which means it only affects a specific part of the brain. They usually occur when the child awakes in the morning, with tingling around the mouth and twitching of one side of the face. Most neurologists prescribe anticonvulsant medication for this seizure.
