Fits (Seizures or Convulsions)

What is a fit?
A fit is characterised by involuntary stiffening and jerky movements of the body. A fit happens when there is an abnormal rise in the electrical activity of the brain

What are the other manifestations of a fit?

• The jerky movements may only occur on one limb
• The child is unarousable and will not respond to sound or touch.
• He may cry out.
• He may have frothing from the mouth
• The eyes may roll and look upwards or just stare into space without blinking
• He may breathe heavily and fast
• After the fit, the child may become floppy and sleep
• On examination, you may discover that he/she has passed stool or has urinated on her/himself.
• Some of the fits may not be obvious and may just be characterised by staring gaze and deep breathing or just a short lapse in attention

What causes Convulsions

• In most children, they may be due to fever in which case they are called febrile convulsions.
• Epilepsy may be a reason for convulsions. Epilepsy is described as a tendency to suffer convulsions in the absence of any known illness or fever. These convulsions may have occurred at least twice within one year. The cause of epilepsy may be due to abnormalities present at birth, infections of the brain or after recovery from head injury but in most cases, the cause is unknown.
• A child with head injury may have convulsions.

What do you do when your child has a fit?

• Maintain calm
• Turn his head gently to one side and place something soft underneath
• Stay on site while the fit lasts and when he regains consciousness, re-assure him.
• Do not attempt to put anything in his mouth or restrain his movements during the fit.
• If he has fever, tepid sponge the child with a clean wet cloth and give the child paracetamol or brufen syrup when he regains consciousness
• If the child is known to have epilepsy, make sure he gets his drugs as prescribed and if the fits recur, see the doctor.
• Take the child to the doctor if he is NOT KNOWN TO HAVE EPILEPSY.