Seizures are symptoms of a brain problem. They happen because of sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. When people think of seizures, they often think of convulsions in which a person's body shakes rapidly and uncontrollably. Not all seizures cause convulsions. There are many types of seizures and some have mild symptoms. Seizures fall into two main groups. Focal seizures, also called partial seizures, happen in just one part of the brain. Generalized seizures are a result of abnormal activity on both sides of the brain.
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes and do not cause lasting harm. However, it is a medical emergency if seizures last longer than 5 minutes or if a person has many seizures and does not wake up between them. Seizures can have many causes, including medicines, high fevers, head injuries and certain diseases. People who have recurring seizures due to a brain disorder have epilepsy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Seizures and Epilepsy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsyspanish/htm/index.htm -
Seizures and Epilepsy: Hope through Research
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/detail_epilepsy.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/crisis_epilepticas.htm
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Nonepileptic Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adults/women/Professional/nonepileptic.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/contestacion/lavida/adultos/mujeres/noepilepticos.cfm
- Seizure Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch085/ch085a.html
- Sedative Could Be Deadly in People with Seizures(10/28/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70960.html
- Brain Imaging(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qstreatment/qstrimaging.cfm
- Diagnosing Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/diagnosis/
- Importance of EEG Tests(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qstreatment/qstreeg.cfm
- Anti-Seizure Medications: Relief from Nerve Pain(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pain-medications/PN00045/METHOD=print
- First Aid for Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/firstaid/
- Side Effects of Epilepsy Medicines(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/medications/medsside.cfm
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/vns/
- Complementary Treatment(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/alternative/
- Ketogenic Diet(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/treatment/diet/
- Seizure Triggers and Precipitants(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/triggers/livingtrigger.cfm
- Absence (Petit Mal) Seizure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/petit-mal-seizure/DS00216/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Frontal Lobe Seizures(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/frontal-lobe-seizures/DS00810/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Generalized Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/genConvulsive/
- Grand Mal Seizure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/grand-mal-seizure/DS00222/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Partial Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/partialSeizures/
- Prolonged Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/emergency/prolonged.cfm
- Temporal Lobe Seizure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/temporal-lobe-seizure/DS00266/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Todd's Paralysis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/toddsparalysis/toddsparalysis.htm
- Causes of Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/causes/
- Driving When You Have Had Seizures(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/Seizures%20Web/
- Photosensitivity and Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/photosensitivity/index.cfm
- Atlas of the Body: The Brain -- Lobes(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZR9WH46JC&sub_cat=185
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Seizures and Epilepsy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/seizuresandepilepsyspanish/htm/index.htm
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If I Had - A Child Who Had a Seizure(Insidermedicine) - Requires Flash Player - http://insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Child_Who_Had_a_Seizure_-_Dr_Raymond_Sze_MD_2752.aspx?p=mdlnp
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If I Had - My First Seizure(Insidermedicine) - Requires Flash Player - http://insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_My_First_Seizure_-_Dr_Steven_Schachter_MD__2647.aspx?p=mdlnp
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS Therapy)(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=121
- Human Brain(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/science/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Seizures(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Seizures%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pyridoxinedependentepilepsy
- Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Are Seizure Medications Safe?(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/71/14/e32
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Leptin Inhibits Seizures; Study May Lead to New Treatments for Epilepsy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_epilepsy_leptin.htm
- Seizure Medications and Their Side Effects(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/69/22/E27
- Seizures After Bleeding into the Brain(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/69/13/E13
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Prophylactic phenobarbital administration after resolution of neonatal seizures: survey of... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18829795&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Drug interactions between chemotherapeutic regimens and antiepileptics. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18803983&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Seizures, illicit drugs, and ethanol. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18590618&tool=MedlinePlus
- Seizures -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(seizures[majr]+OR+seizures,febrile[majr])+NOT+epilep*[tiab]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Epileptic seizures -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(seizures[majr]+AND+epilepsy[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Epilepsy Terms Glossary(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/glossary.cfm
- Finding a Physician Who Specializes in Epilepsy Treatment(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/drsearch.cfm
- Epilepsy Foundation - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Criminal Justice: Arrest for Seizure-Related Behavior(Epilepsy Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsylegal/LegalFactSheets.cfm
- Epilepsy and Seizure Statistics(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/statistics.cfm
- Children and Medicine(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/medications/medschildren.cfm
- Dealing with Risk(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/qsprrisks.cfm
- Discontinuing Antiepileptic Drugs(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/medications/discontinuing.cfm
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Febrile Seizures(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detail_febrile_seizures.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/convulsiones_febriles.htm
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Febrile Seizures(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/febrile_seizures.htm
- For Parents: Introduction to Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/index.cfm
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Infantile Spasms(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/infantilespasms/infantilespasms.htm
- Managing Status Epilepticus(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/qsprstatus.cfm
- Nonfebrile and Generalized Seizures(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ9I77NBAC&sub_cat=107
- Seizures(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/seizure.html
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Seizures Instruction Sheet(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/sheets/seizures_sheet.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/folleto/seizures_sheets_esp.html
- Your Child at School(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/parents/qsprschool.cfm
- Pregnancy Issues(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/women/pregnancy/weipregnancy.cfm
- Women and Epilepsy: Special Concerns about Seizure Medications(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/takingstock/faq/weimeds.cfm
- Medicine and the Elderly(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/medications/medselderly.cfm
- Seizure First Aid(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/seniors/laterrespond.cfm
- Types of Seizures(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/seniors/latertypes.cfm
- Epilepsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/epilepsy.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Seizures is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Seizures - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/seizures.html