Seizure

Disorders

Jennifer HickelEEC4731

Module 2: Young Children’s Health

Overview• Seizures are defined as a temporary

interruption of consciousness sometimes accompanied by convulsive moments.

• Result of a sudden disruption of orderly communication among nerve cells (neurons) in the brain.

• Creates uncontrolled and abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Types, Signs and Symptoms– Febrile seizures:

• Triggered by high fever• May cause child to lose

consciousness, experience full-body, involuntary, jerking movements

• Usually stop when fever subsides• Not thought to result in serious or

permanent damage

– Focal seizures (Partial seizures):• Involuntary convulsive

movements• Begin at the tip of an extremity

and spread toward the body trunk• Child does not always lose

consciousness

Types, Signs and Symptoms – Cont.

– Petit mal seizures (Absence seizures):• Characterized by momentary losses of

attention– Ex: starting off into space, blank

appearance, brief fluttering of the eyes• Usually last 10-30 seconds• Child may abruptly stop activity and

immediately resume after seizure

– Grand mal seizures (Tonic-Clonic seizures):• Most common form of seizure disorders• Convulsive movements usually

involving the entire body• Some children experience an “aura” or

warning before seizure begins– Ex: sound, smell, taste, sensation, or

visual cue• Child experiences sudden stiffness

followed by loss of consciousness and uncontrollable muscular contractions

• After seizure child may awaken and complain of headache or dizziness

Types, Signs and Symptoms – Cont.

– Temporal lobe seizures:• Spontaneous episode of

unusual behavior– Ex: inappropriate hysterical

laughter, utter unintelligible sounds, run around in circles

• May experience an “aura” before seizure begins

• Child does not usually lose complete consciousness

• May be drowsy and/or confused afterwards

• Child should be encouraged to rest

What can trigger a seizure?

• Seizures can be triggered by many different factors including:

– Missing a dose of medication– Tiredness– Missing meals– Taking illicit drugs– Increased stress level– Flashing lights– Drinking alcohol– Overheating or overexertion (hyperthermia)

Management of Seizure Disorders

• Most seizures can be controlled with medication– Vital that children take medication everyday, even if

seizures are under control– Medication may cause undesirable side effects like

drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness– Child should be monitored closely by physician

• Surgery and specially prescribed diets can also be used to control seizures

What do I do as a teacher?

• Teachers have two primary responsibilities if a child has a seizure in the classroom:

– 1) Ensure the safety of the student having the seizure

– 2) Address the situation with the rest of the class

Let’s explore each of these responsibilities a bit more specifically…

What to do During a Seizure

• Try to remain calm. Let the student have the seizure, then contact the school nurse to offer assistance after the seizure has subsided.

• If you are able, try to time the duration of the seizure.

• Attempt to help the student to the floor and provide a pillow or something soft to prevent head injury. Do not hold a seizing student down.

• Move any furniture or objects that may cause injury.

• Do not put anything in the student’s mouth.

• When jerking movement stops, lay the student on his or her side. It is not uncommon for someone who has had a seizure to vomit, and this will help prevent the student from choking. Then, let the student rest in this position until he or she regains consciousness.

• After the seizure, reassure the student that he or she is safe. Once fully alert, let the student know about the seizure and how long it lasted.

• If a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or you see that the student is having more than one seizure without regaining consciousness, call an ambulance immediately—this is a medical emergency that requires advanced care.

What to do After a Seizure

• Notify the student’s parents immediately.

• Document the seizure in a brief, written report and include it in the student’s health file.

• Discuss the event if the seizure was witnessed by other members of the class.– Helps students to understand

what happened– Helps ease students’ fears and

minimize humiliation or ill feelings toward the student who had the seizure.

Classroom Resources• Lesson plans to help you offer seizure/epilepsy

education in your classroom.– http://

www.epilepsyclassroom.com/includes/pdf/Lesson%20Plan%20Preschool-K.pdf (Preschool – K)

– http://www.epilepsyclassroom.com/includes/pdf/Lesson%20Plan%20Grades%201-4.pdf (Grades 1-4)

• Sample incident form to help you inform the parents of a student who has had a seizure:– http://

www.epilepsyclassroom.com/includes/pdf/Seizure%20Incident%20Report.pdf

References• Health, Safety and Nutrition for the

Young Child – 7th Edition, by: Lynn R. Marotz

• Epilepsy Classroom– http://www.epilepsyclassroom.com/hom

e/index.aspx