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Signs & Symptoms of Seizures in Children

When a child has a seizure, it can be a very frightening experience. It can be confusing to know whether the signs your child is giving you indicates that a seizure is occurring. It becomes important to identify the specific signs and symptoms of seizures in children so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible.

  1. Muscle Spasms

    • Muscle spasms can cause the muscles in a child's body to jerk and twitch uncontrollably. The spasms may range from minor twitching on the legs and arms to severe full-body jerking. This can be a frightening symptom that can leave a parent feeling confused and desperate to help his or her child.

    Excessive Movements

    • One symptoms of an impending seizure that can sometimes be overlooked is rapid or excessive movements of the child's body. These movements vary from child to child, but the most common are lip smacking, arm flapping and hand clapping. These movements can mimic the movements of a child with autism, so it can be difficult to know if the movements indicate a seizure is imminent or not without the accompaniment of other signs.

    Confusion

    • A child may become confused and disoriented if a seizure is about to start. This can make the child appear very tired or cranky or can cause him or her to have a difficult time focusing on conversation. Without the presence of other symptoms, this type of confusion can resemble an attention span dysfunction. If confusion is severe or if your child become frightened by his or her lack of awareness, take the child to a doctor.

    Blank Staring

    • Sometimes a mild seizure can cause a child to become calm, quiet and very still instead of the stereotypical spasms that occur in grand mal seizures. This type of seizure is identifiable by the appearance of a blank stare that washes over the child's face. The child may stare blankly even when you attempt to communicate with him or her and will be unresponsive if spoken to.

    Sleepiness

    • Sleepiness usually accompanies all seizures, either beforehand or afterward, and can be frightening to a parent whose child has just experienced the muscle spasms of a grand mal seizure. The sleepiness is usually equal to the severity of the seizure and can range from mild fatigue to full exhaustion. If you are worried about your child's sleepiness after a seizure, seek medical attention and advice.

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