HEALTH SERVICES TRAINING MODULE

SEIZURES EPILEPSY

Iron County School District

SEIZURES - EPILEPSY

DefinitionsTypes

TriggersEmergenciesTreatments

Impact

DEFINITIONS

A SEIZURE IS A CHANGE IN Sensation, awareness, behavior, or involuntary muscle activity BROUGHT ABOUT BY An electrical disturbance in the brain A neurological

condition that affects the nervous system and makes people susceptible to seizures.

NOT ALL SEIZURES INDICATE EPILEPSY

Non-epileptic seizures may be caused by: High fever Alcohol & drug withdrawal Low blood sugar such Imbalance of body fluids Sudden loss of blood supply to the brain

Seizures may look scary but they are not painful. Most seizures occur without warning.

TYPES OF SEIZURES

GENERALIZEDWhen the electricaldisturbance involves thewhole brain, the seizure iscalled generalized

PARTIALWhen only part of the brainis affected, it is called partial

There are many types of seizures classified into two main types

GENERALIZED SEIZURE TYPES

TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES

MYOCLONIC SEIZURES

ATONIC SEIZURES

ABSENCE SEIZURES

Involve electrical misfiring that affects the whole brain

TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES

FIRST AID IS NECESSARYo Formally called grand mal seizureso Usually last 1-2 minuteso Stiffening of the limbs (tonic phase) o Loss of consciousnesso Jerking movements (clonic phase)o Breathing may decrease or cease altogether,o Cyanosis (blue color) of the nail beds, lips and faceo Breathing typically returns during the clonic phase, but may be irregular. o Possible loss of bladder or bowel o Some people experience only the tonic phase or the clonic phase; or a tonic-clonic pattern

ABSENCE SEIZURES

NO FIRST AID NEEDEDo Have been called petit mal seizures o Typically last 2-15 secondso Brief episodes of staring o Awareness and responsiveness are impairedo May occur occasionally OR 100 times a dayo Can be mistaken for daydreamingo Do not realize they’ve had one but alert thereafter

Simple absence seizures only cause staring.

Complex absence seizures include changes in muscle activity such as blinking,

slight chewing movements, hand movements such as rubbing the fingers

together, and contraction or relaxation of the muscles.

MYOCLONIC SEIZURES

NO FIRST AID NEEDEDo Lasts only a few seconds o Rapid, brief jerking (muscle contractions) o Usually occurs at the same time on both sides of the bodyo Occasionally, they involve one arm or a footo People usually think of them as sudden jerks or clumsiness.

ATONIC SEIZURES

FIRST AID USUALLY NOT NEEDED o Also known as drop attackso Produces an abrupt loss of muscle tone o The head dropso Loss of posture or sudden collapse

These seizures can result in injuries to the head and face

because they are so abrupt, occur without warning and the

people experiencing them fall with force. Protective head

gear is sometimes used.

FIRST AID GENERALIZED TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES

Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby. Don't hold the person down or try to stop their movements. Time the seizure with your watch. Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp. Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult. Remove glasses. Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head. Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear. Do not try to force the mouth open with any hard implement or with fingers. Don't attempt CPR except in the unlikely event that a person does not start breathing again after the seizure has stopped. Stay with the person until the seizure ends naturally. Be friendly and reassuring as consciousness returns. The person may be very sleepy after the seizure.

PARTIAL SEIZURES

The impact of a partial seizure depends on where in the brain it begins and how it spreads.

Partial seizures can spread to cause a generalized type of seizure, discussed in the previous slides.

SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURES

Awareness, memory and consciousness maintained

COMPLEXPARTIAL SEIZURES

Awareness, memory and consciousness are impaired or lost

Electrical misfiring is limited to one part of the brain

SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURES

Last about 90 seconds, while aware of their surroundings, with memory and consciousness retained

MOTOR SEIZURES: Affect movement, usually on one side of the body

SENSORY SEIZURES: Sensations may cause things to look, sound, taste, smell, or feel different.

AUTONOMIC SEIZURES: Cause changes in the part of the nervous system that automatically controls bodily functions.

PSYCHIC SEIZURES: Change how people think, feel or experience things.

COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURES

Last about 1 – 2 minutes, alters awareness, memory and consciousness, and

is different for each person depending on the part of the brain affected.

Often starts with a blank stare and inability to interact normally with other people and

no control of bodily movements, speech, or actions

• Eyes may be open

• Make mechanical movements

• Chewing

• Repeated movements

• Pick at clothes

• Picks objects up & put down• Freezing in place• Daydreaming

• Mumbles, repeat words • Laugh, scream or cry

• May run and appear afraid• Struggles or flails if restrained• Remains frightened & confused afterward

SEIZURE TRIGGERS

Certain things can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy, and include;

Flashing or bright lights Lack of sleep Stress Overstimulation Fever Certain medications, Heavy alcohol use Hyperventilation Nutritional deficiencies Menstrual cycle

AURAS

Partial seizures sometimes have an aura, a warning sign that a seizure is going to occur.

Tingling

Dizziness

Headache

Fear or Panic

Upset Stomach

Distorted Vision

Racing Thoughts

Strange Feelings

Distorted Emotions

Weird Smell or Taste

Lightheaded &

Numbness

• Auras usually occur seconds to minutes before a seizure

• Physical sensations that can occur as auras

Sometimes the warning or aura is not followed by any other symptom

AFTER A SEIZURE

May be sleepy or confused for a few minutes or even an hour or more

May not remember the seizure or what happened immediately before the event

May be alert and ready to resume whatever they were doing before the seizure happened

SEIZURE EMERGENCIES

Seizure lasts over 5 minutesSeizures occur close together with no recovery between seizures Injury occurs Difficulty breathing-blue coloration Illness after seizureSuspect ingestion of poisons or

medicationsOr other abnormalities

Call 911 emergency

medical services if

SEIZURE TREATMENT

MEDICATION DIET CHANGE

SURGERYVAGUS NERVESTIMULATOR

If drugsdon’t work or

child hasa lot of

medicationside effects

othertreatments

are considered

Learning/Academic issues

At greater risk for learning problems

and underachievement

May have deficits ino Attentiono Concentrationo Memoryo Organizational skillso Academic achievement

May have fatiguefrom seizures

And side effectsfrom medication

Emotional & behavioral issues

Higher risk for anxiety depression irritability hyperactivity frustration aggression & rage shame embarrassment

To the needsof studentswith Seizures

Let us be sensitive

This concludes the Health Services training module

1. Make a copy of the test for this module then answer the questions.2. You can also make a copy of this power point

to assist you with the test.3. Check the answers.4. Send a copy of your answers to the school

nurse.

Please follow the instructions below to complete a short quiz:

Thank you for taking the time to learn how to assist students with Seizures

Iron County School District Health Services