When the brain short-circuits, a seizure (also known as a convulsion) arises. Seizures can result in uncontrollable body twitches, a loss of communication, and urine. Sleep is disrupted for some children not by nightmares but by seizures. These sudden strokes are far more prevalent at night.
When the brain is excessively fatigued and just entering a sleep state or just waking up, it is more prone to these electrical explosions. It’s easy to confuse a night terror’s shrieking and passiveness for a seizure. However, Night terrors, on the other hand, frighten us without the classic symptoms of attacks like drooling, limb jerking, tongue biting, or incontinence.
Common seizure signs that occur in children
There are a few common signs that can help you recognize seizures in children. Here goes the list:
- Sudden jerking movements while sleeping
- Continuous staring or spacing out
- Not having control over urination or losing control over the bladder.
- Sudden loss of consciousness or awareness about the surroundings. In the case of toddlers, the child does not respond to the actions for a long time.
- Stiffening of the body or body movements
Causes of Seizures in Children
Seizures are usually seen between the age groups of 3 – 5. A rapid spike in temperature might cause night seizures (or fever seizures). When this is the case, the kid will be flushed red and hot to the touch. This will allow us to recognize the seizure that occurs in the children during sleep. However, there’s no clear explanation for these seizures, benign rolandic epilepsy might be the long found answer, but the exact cause is not yet proven.
Are these Seizures common?
Seizures, especially nocturnal seizures (night seizures), are often observed in children. However, most of the children overrun seizures as they get into teens. But, diagnosing seizures and being mindful of them is highly important to make it smoother for your children. A complete medical examination is required to diagnose seizures, including a sleep EEG to capture electrical activity in the brain.
Seizures and epilepsy are more commonly seen in infants and children than in any other age group. But that doesn’t mean all the children with seizures are affected seriously. For few, it runs out on its own, and few might require treatment to overcome them. You can talk to your paediatrics to know the level of emergency and take actions accordingly.
*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.
