Grand Mal Seizures & Children
Grand mal seizures or generalized seizures occur when electrical disturbance exist throughout the brain. When the seizure takes place you may notice a loud cry and loss of consciousness in the person. The grand mal seizures have two phases in which the person has involuntary muscle jerking (convulsions). During, convulsions body muscles go stiff and then come back on rest, these two phases are given a name called tonic and clonic phase. When muscles go rigid the phase called tonic phase and again when they relax, the phase called clonic phase. This whole process is time limited and last between 2 to 5 minutes. When both the phase ends and the person regain his or her consciousness, may complain of weakness and fatigue. During a grand mal seizure a person also loses control of bladder and bowel.
Parents’ Helplessness With Grand Mal Seizures In Children And Infants
Grand mal seizures do not restrict themselves to a certain age group but children and infants are always at the high risk of having grand mal seizures, especially when they have had a severe head injury in near past. Being a parent it is not easier for you to watch your child suffering through a seizure. All your efforts goes in vain to prepare yourself for that heart stopping moment of watching your child fighting heard with seizer. May it be a first attack or the 45th; you always have that same frustration, helplessness and fear when you see your child suffering with grand mal seizures and your incapability in offering a help to stop his or her suffering for once.
A Severe Brain Injury May Develop Grand Mal Seizures Disorder in Children
A severe brain injury or skull fracture usually results in seizure disorder in children and infants. The onset of seizure disorder has been divided in to two categories:
- Early onset seizure disorder
- Late onset seizure disorder
The onset of a seizure within first seven days of severe head injury is called early onset seizure. Early onset seizure is considered more dangerous as it increases the intracranial pressure in the brain and causes more harm. A child below 2 years of age is in greater risk of such onset compared to the older one.
The late onset seizure disorder occurs after first seven days of injury and the risk of such onset is higher to those who had a skull fracture. Late onset seizure disorder’s risk increases with age. The older the child the higher chances he or she has to develop late onset seizure disorder. An anti-seizure medication is always prescribed by the physician at the initial week of head injury as a precaution.
Parents Should Remain Calm During Child’s Grand Mal Seizures
It is true that grand mal seizure is most frightening to watch and when it is to the child, it really is a heartthrob moment for parents. The seizure has always been famous as the most dramatic seizure but at the same time this is also true that during the seizure the child goes unconscious and feels no pain. Parents and caregivers should remain calm during the child’s grand mal seizures. You have no control on seizure. It must run its course.
Grand Mal Seizures Resources & Suggestions
The best and only way you can help you and your family get ready and deal with grand mal seizures is through studying and discovering a lot more about them. So see more publications on our grand mal seizures site.