May also be called: Febrile Seizures; Absence Seizures; Tonic-Clonic Seizures; Petit Mal Seizures; Grand Mal Seizures
"Seizure" is a general term that refers to sudden abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that can cause someone to collapse, convulse, or have another temporary disturbance of normal brain function, often with a loss or change in consciousness. A person who has had two or more seizures may be diagnosed with epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder.
Seizures can have many different causes, and learning the specific cause of a seizure is critical to its treatmeant.
Seizures can be frightening, but most last only a few minutes, stop on their own, and are not life-threatening.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.
Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts
