If a person has two or more serious convulsions, he is diagnosed as having epilepsy.If your child is having convulsions dont panic. You can treat him at home. But once the event has passed do contact your doctor. In this articleCase StudyGiven such an emergency, what should a mother doCase Study Raj, an eight-year-old, told his mother that he was not feeling well. His mother was busy and ignored Raj for a while. However, soon thereafter Raj gave a loud cry, fell on the floor with his eyes rolled up, jaw tightly clenched and tongue caught between his teeth. He was also convulsing in all four extremities with his back arched. His mother, not having seen a convulsion before, was terribly frightened and summoned help from the neighbours for help. They promptly brought onions. One lady brought an old shoe. These things were held before Rajs nose and the convulsions soon ended. Raj was frothing at the mouth. The froth was blood stained because he had bitten his tongue. He had passed urine and soiled his clothes. He was helped to bed. By this time he had recovered consciousness but was dazed. In a short while he asked his mother as to why there were so many persons were around him. He also complained of a severe headache, bodyache and nausea. He could not control himself and vomited on the floor. He then fell asleep. If a person has two or more convulsions like this, he is diagnosed as having epilepsy. Given such an emergency, what should a mother do: If by chance the mother is by the side of the child at the time when the child starts to convulse, she should make all attempts to stop the fall, to prevent a serious injury. A handkerchief or a piece of cloth should be inserted in the mouth when the child gives a cry to prevent the child from biting his tongue. NEVER put your fingers in the childs mouth, as they are likely to be bitten. Also do not put a hard object like a spoon, as that will break the childs teeth. If the tongue, cheeks or lips are bitten and if the wound is large, the child may have to be taken, after the fit is over, to the nearest emergency centre for the wound to be stitched. The convulsions will stop on their own. There is no need to panic or put onions or shoes near the nose. Onions and shoes serve the same purpose as smelling salts (Ammonia salt) which is generally used for hysterical fits. Hysterical fits are psychogenic, while convulsions are organic. The child must be turned to one side so that if he were to vomit, he will not aspirate the same in the lungs. Tight clothing like a tie or a tight collared shirt should be loosened, as breathing will become easier. In case a convulsion continues for more than a few minutes or the child gets repeated convulsions in the same episode, then it is wiser to summon a doctor or take the child to the nearest hospital. Instead of panicking and summoning all and sundry, it is important that the mother watches all events minutely. This is important as at times during convulsion a child may stop breathing for a few seconds or longer and at the time the child should be shaken up or turned to other side. This will stimulate respiratory movements again. As and when she consults the doctor, he would like to know the exact chronicle of events. He would like to know as to what exactly the child mentioned when he stated that he is not feeling well. There are many fits that begin with some premonition to the patient, such as something rising up from the stomach, some visual or auditory hallucinations or some frightening or enjoyable psychological feelings or an indescribable bad smell, etc. At the onset, the eyes and head may turn to one side or the mouth may twist. It is important that the mother watches carefully the side to which the eyes and head turns or the mouth twists. The convulsions can occur or begin in one limb or a part of the limb and then gradually involve the entire side or body. It is equally important to note what happens after the convulsions are over. The doctor would like to know how long the dazed period lasted. He would also like to know whether the child was moving one side of the body less than the other or whether there was a transient paralysis on one side. After the event it is advisable to contact the family physician, who will decide whether a consultation with a specialist is indicated.
If a person has two or more serious convulsions, he is diagnosed as having epilepsy.If your child is having convulsions don't panic. You can treat him at home. But once the event has passed do contact your doctor.
Raj, an eight-year-old, told his mother that he was not feeling well. His mother was busy and ignored Raj for a while. However, soon thereafter Raj gave a loud cry, fell on the floor with his eyes rolled up, jaw tightly clenched and tongue caught between his teeth. He was also convulsing in all four extremities with his back arched. His mother, not having seen a convulsion before, was terribly frightened and summoned help from the neighbours for help. They promptly brought onions. One lady brought an old shoe. These things were held before Raj's nose and the convulsions soon ended. Raj was frothing at the mouth. The froth was blood stained because he had bitten his tongue. He had passed urine and soiled his clothes. He was helped to bed. By this time he had recovered consciousness but was dazed. In a short while he asked his mother as to why there were so many persons were around him. He also complained of a severe headache, bodyache and nausea. He could not control himself and vomited on the floor. He then fell asleep. If a person has two or more convulsions like this, he is diagnosed as having epilepsy.
Given such an emergency, what should a mother do:
If by chance the mother is by the side of the child at the time when the child starts to convulse, she should make all attempts to stop the fall, to prevent a serious injury. A handkerchief or a piece of cloth should be inserted in the mouth when the child gives a cry to prevent the child from biting his tongue. NEVER put your fingers in the child's mouth, as they are likely to be bitten. Also do not put a hard object like a spoon, as that will break the child's teeth. If the tongue, cheeks or lips are bitten and if the wound is large, the child may have to be taken, after the fit is over, to the nearest emergency centre for the wound to be stitched.
The convulsions will stop on their own. There is no need to panic or put onions or shoes near the nose. Onions and shoes serve the same purpose as smelling salts (Ammonia salt) which is generally used for hysterical fits. Hysterical fits are psychogenic, while convulsions are organic. The child must be turned to one side so that if he were to vomit, he will not aspirate the same in the lungs. Tight clothing like a tie or a tight collared shirt should be loosened, as breathing will become easier.
In case a convulsion continues for more than a few minutes or the child gets repeated convulsions in the same episode, then it is wiser to summon a doctor or take the child to the nearest hospital.
Instead of panicking and summoning all and sundry, it is important that the mother watches all events minutely. This is important as at times during convulsion a child may stop breathing for a few seconds or longer and at the time the child should be shaken up or turned to other side. This will stimulate respiratory movements again. As and when she consults the doctor, he would like to know the exact chronicle of events. He would like to know as to what exactly the child mentioned when he stated that he is not feeling well. There are many fits that begin with some premonition to the patient, such as something rising up from the stomach, some visual or auditory hallucinations or some frightening or enjoyable psychological feelings or an indescribable bad smell, etc. At the onset, the eyes and head may turn to one side or the mouth may twist. It is important that the mother watches carefully the side to which the eyes and head turns or the mouth twists. The convulsions can occur or begin in one limb or a part of the limb and then gradually involve the entire side or body. It is equally important to note what happens after the convulsions are over. The doctor would like to know how long the dazed period lasted. He would also like to know whether the child was moving one side of the body less than the other or whether there was a transient paralysis on one side.
After the event it is advisable to contact the family physician, who will decide whether a consultation with a specialist is indicated.
Sorry. Due to our site's regulations and policies, your message has not been posted. Our moderating team has been notified about your message. If the message is found to be genuine and still did not get posted, you may not post the message again as it will automatically get posted for you within 24hrs time (excluding weekends).
- The Indiaparenting Team
Hi. I want suggestion from "if all were scientists". My sister's son is 5 yrs and since last 8 months he has been having seizures only attacking his left side. they are giving him oxitol and freezium. they tried steroids, IVIG and he is on ketonic diet.every test report is normal. he had just started walking and this began. he is yet to speak too. and he hardly has strengtth on his left hand and leg. he drags is left leg while tryin to walk. please help
I have got the same problem with my sisters doughter , she is 5 year old now and she is yet to walk on her own and speak , she is having problem of CONVULSION since she was 6 month old .
We have visited almost every big hospital in mumbai and rest of india but still no solution comes up and even no diagnosis, We are helpless now .
If you can help us in this plz let me know my mail id is saurabhtiwari19@gmail.com and if you want us to contact you plz mail me your contact details
Hi,
My 2 yr. old child is suffering from suddenly abnormal eyeball movement after every 6 months. It looks like a Fast train going in front of him and he is trying to watch each and every coach of the train. He recover within a minute from this and start to play immediately. His EEG Report is normal. Some Local Child specialist diagnosing it as child epilepsy. Kindly suggest me to go for further because epilepsy medicines can cause side effects which can be harmful for his developing brain.
it is a very good article, but very diffcult for parents to remember what to do in the time of emergency. are some children more prone to convulsions than others?
can you include information regarding such convulsions in new born babies,the probable cause and the available expert treatment in india and abroad. will the baby lack in mental or physical developement
since last two years, my son is being administered daily a tablet called "gardinal" 30 mg - half in the morning & one at night. prolonged administration of this has any adverse affect on the mental health of the child? can anybody advise on this?
my son suffered from this convulsion twice in between the age of 8 to 13 months and what the doctors reading was the child should never have a fever more than 101 degees f.once it starts rising above it ,the child may not be able to tolerate and this becomes one reason for happenig of convulsion &in second case without any prior symptom this occurs & the child develops very high fever after it.my son had the seci\ond type of case and doctor's standard instruction was to keep a check on his fever for which he ordered me to constantly put water on his chest & abdominal area as long as the fever did not come down and this idea has been a blessing because infants & small children generally doesn't allow us to touch their forehead with wet tissues to bring down the high fever.
my son who is 7 mnts old recently had a convulsion due to high fever.his temp was 101 when the convulsion took place.we paniced and took him to the nearest nursing home.
he was hospitilised for 4 days.
the doctor asked us to take care of his fever in future.
he advised us to give him a dose of compose(oral or rectal)with ponstan whenever he has a fever.
i would just like to know wheter convulsions affects the child's growth in any case
mental or physical.
