Seizure Disorders
A seizure is an involuntary sudden change in sensation, behavior, muscle activity or level of consciousness, caused by a disruption
of normal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures may be caused by medical conditions such as high fever, central nervous system
infections, poisoning, hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalance, head injury and structural brain lesion. Epilepsy is a condition of the
brain characterized by a susceptibility to have recurrent seizures of unknown causes. Someone is considered to have epilepsy if
they have had more than two unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart.
Seizure Recognition
Teachers and school nurses may be the first to detect possible seizure activity. Commonly seen signs of possible seizure activity
include: brief staring spells (5-10 seconds) when the child is unresponsive; periods of confusion; head dropping; sudden loss of
muscle tone; episodes of rapid blinking or eyes rolling upwards; rhythmic twitching of the mouth or face; aimless, dazed behavior
including walking around or repetitive behavior; involuntary stiffening and/or jerking of arm or leg. A pattern of behaviors such as
these should be reported to parents.
Important things to observe and document about a seizure:
• Precipitating events
• Student’s behavior prior to seizure
• Type of seizure and duration
• Description and duration of post-seizure sleep or drowsiness.
Groups of Seizures/Description
Group 1 - Generalized Seizures (affects both sides of the brain); Absence Seizure; Tonic Clonic Seizures
Characterized by:
• A staring spell, lasting a few seconds
• Momentary loss of awareness, interrupting ongoing activity
• Movements of face/arms
• Return to full awareness after episode
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal)
May include some or all of the following:
• Body stiffens and/or jerks
• Cries out
• Becomes unconscious or unresponsive
• Loses bowel/bladder control
• Usually lasts one to two minutes
• Shallow breathing and turning blue around lips or mouth
• Confused, sleepy or belligerent after the seizure
• Grinding motion of teeth or jaw
Group 2 – Focal Seizures; (affects one area of the brain) Simple Focal Seizure, Complex Focal Seizure,
Secondary Generalized Seizures
Simple focal seizures
The student may:
• Remain conscious, but may not be able to control body movements
• Have distorted senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch
• Be confused and frightened afterwards
Complex focal seizures
The student may:
• Exhibit automatic behaviors in which consciousness is clouded, lasts one to two minutes
• Get up and walk around, as if sleepwalking
• Be unresponsive to spoken direction, or respond inappropriately
• Be fearful
• Exhibit repetitive behaviors
• Be confused and have no memory of the event afterwards
Forms:
Seizure Health History form
Seizure Action Plan
Doctor's Orders for Emergency Seizure Medication Form
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact your schools Health Monitor or Douglas County Nurse.