Seizures are an unpleasant phenomenon that affects both adults and children. They appear spontaneously for a number of reasons. The extent of muscle contractions can be different. In accordance with the situation, others should provide emergency care for convulsions. There are several recommendations for performing this procedure. It will be discussed further.
General definition
Emergency care for convulsions may be required for a person at any age. When he is in this state, the muscles begin to contract involuntarily. It causes severe pain. It is necessary to take certain actions to eliminate this phenomenon.
The cause of seizures is a sharp decrease in blood supply to the muscles. They respond to this with a strong contraction. Causes of spasms can be different external and internal factors. It is necessary to establish the cause of a similar phenomenon after the suppression of an attack. In most cases, a full examination and treatment of the patient is required.
Muscle contractions can be local (most often on the legs or arms) or generalized. In the second case, the process affects all muscle groups. However, do not confuse convulsive syndrome with epilepsy. In the first case, this is a symptom. Epilepsy is a separate disease.
Varieties
Emergency care for convulsions in children and adults is carried out in accordance with the current situation. In most cases, the actions will be the same. In some cases, cramps are not a sign of a serious illness. However, it is worth to be examined by a doctor. There are a number of serious pathologies that cause such abnormalities.
Cramps come in many forms. Most often, localized muscle contractions occur. They affect only certain muscle groups. They can be caused by both external and internal factors.
Generalized cramps cover all muscle groups. This is a typical occurrence for epilepsy. Clonic, tonic, and clonic-tonic convulsions may also occur. Emergency care in this case can significantly reduce the risk of adverse effects.
In clonic seizures, contractions occur throughout the body. Cramps alternate with muscle relaxation. This phenomenon can contribute to the development of stuttering. Tonic convulsions spread throughout the body, can be determined in the respiratory tract. They hold muscles in tension for a long time. There are clonic-tonic convulsions that combine both types of muscle contraction.
Causes of Seizures in Children
Children may need emergency cramps at a very young age. The causes of this phenomenon most often become a sharp increase in temperature in infectious diseases. In this case, the child may lose consciousness. A few minutes later he comes to his senses.
Also, in children under 10 years of age, such phenomena can be caused by pathologies of the central nervous system, head injuries. Also, a metabolic disorder can lead to the appearance of a similar pathology. With a decrease in ionized calcium in the blood of a child, a spasm may also occur. This phenomenon is also called hypocalcemic convulsion.
Extensive convulsions are also provoked by epilepsy, cerebral palsy, Batten and Kanavan disease. If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. In babies, this condition requires proper correction. The causes of the pathology are determined, competent treatment is carried out.
Cramps in adults
Emergency care for convulsions may also be required for an adult or an elderly person. The cause of this phenomenon at a young age may be a head injury, neoplasm in the brain. Toxoplasmosis, angioma also leads to similar consequences.
Often, cramps occur against the background of frequent use of alcoholic beverages. Inflammatory processes in the brain also lead to the appearance of such problems. A competent examination is needed. Various neoplasms, especially those accompanied by the spread of metastases in the brain, manifest themselves as generalized convulsions.
After 60 years, these symptoms indicate cerebrovascular diseases. Also, a similar condition can be caused by an overdose of certain drugs. Renal failure can also occur in seizures. Alzheimer's disease can also lead to seizures.
Other reasons
Emergency cramps may also be required for other reasons. They are characteristic of manifestations of a local nature. Often the cause of muscle contraction is a sharp drop in temperature. Especially often this happens in the summer, when a person enters the water. The vessels are narrowed, which leads to a cramp.
Dehydration can also cause seizures. In hot weather, cramps occur more often. Significant loads also lead to such manifestations. If the muscles are very tired, the protein that accumulates in the tissues does not have time to be eliminated from the body. This leads to seizures.
Vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, as well as a number of other diseases can lead to the appearance of such symptoms. A deficiency in the body of magnesium, calcium and potassium also leads to seizures. Often this happens in childhood and adolescence. During a period of increased growth, the child needs more vitamins and minerals. Therefore, with the appearance of local seizures, especially at night, they require a review of the diet. Also, a similar situation occurs during pregnancy.
Help with local cramps
The algorithm for emergency care for seizures in children and adults is almost identical. With local muscle contractions, you need to perform a number of simple steps. This will quickly remove the pain.
If the attack occurred on the calf muscles or feet, you need to stand on a flat surface. Heeled shoes are contraindicated during this period. Toe cramps require you to take off your shoes and walk barefoot. In this case, it is desirable that the person has a foot massage. It is necessary to disperse the blood so that it flows into the limbs.
If a cramp occurs in the calf muscles (the most common case), you need to stand up and pull the socks towards you. This will help relax the muscle. In some cases, a person cannot stand. It must be placed on a flat surface. You can prick the place where the spasm occurs. It will also relax the muscles. It is important to do massage. It includes stroking, rubbing. The procedure is repeated even after the attack stops.
Emergency care for hypocalcemic convulsion
In children aged 6-18 months, a phenomenon such as hypocalcemic convulsion occurs. This is a serious pathology that requires treatment. The child may lose consciousness. Convulsions spread throughout the body. In this case, urgent help is needed. This situation develops after prolonged diarrhea or vomiting in children who are sick with rickets. Hypofunction of the thyroid gland also leads to similar phenomena.
Emergency care in children with hypocalcemic convulsions requires injections of calcium glucanate. If the attack is mild, you need to enter a 5% solution of calcium chloride or gluconate in the amount of 0.1 g per kilogram of the child’s weight.
If the attack is severe, you need to use the drug in a higher concentration. This requires a solution of 10%. The dose is 0.2 ml per kilogram of the child’s weight. An injection is prepared by mixing with a 5% glucose solution, increasing the amount of the drug by 2 times. After this, hospitalization is carried out.
First steps
The algorithm for emergency care for convulsions is quite simple. Everyone will cope with this task. If a person has cramps all over his body, he falls to the floor. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the patient during the attack. A soft pillow, clothes are placed under his head so that he does not hit his head on the floor.
It is impossible to hold a person at the time of a cramp. This could result in serious injury. There should be no sharp objects near the victim. The head needs to be turned to the side. This condition is often accompanied by vomiting. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the patient does not choke. A scarf or a small towel is placed in the patient’s mouth. This is necessary so that he does not break his teeth with strong compression.
If a person has dentures, they need to be removed. In the presence of hoarse breathing, the oral cavity is checked. There should be no foreign objects in it. If a person has tightening clothes, they remove or unfasten them. This, for example, can be a belt, tie, belt, etc. If an attack occurs indoors, you need to open the window.
Following actions
A certain sequence must be followed when providing emergency care for convulsions. The algorithm of actions after the previous stage is also simple. It is necessary to call an ambulance. Even if a person has already come to his senses, can sit and walk, he should be examined by a specialist. You can take the victim yourself to the inpatient department of the nearest hospital.
Treatment
At the medical facility, some medications will be administered to the patient. Otherwise, the attack may recur in the near future. The same drugs are used by emergency doctors who come on call. The drugs that are required after an attack include a solution (0.5%) of Relanium or Seduxen. It is administered at the rate of 0.1 ml per kilogram of patient weight. It is administered intravenously. Preliminary, the composition is diluted with 0.9% saline.
Also, a 25% solution of magnesium sulfate is administered intramuscularly or intravenously. It requires 0.2 ml per kilogram. This medicine is also pre-diluted in 5% glucose solution (5-10 ml) or 0.9% saline.
Febrile cramps in children
In most cases, children have febrile seizures. They usually do not cause a health hazard. However, when a similar symptom appears, you need to correctly respond to such a condition. This situation often happens in babies during an infectious or viral illness. If the temperature rises sharply to 38 ° C or more, the fragile nervous system reacts to this condition with a general cramp. The child falls, loses consciousness for a few seconds. The attack goes away on its own in a few seconds.
The emergency cramp algorithm should be known to all parents. If a similar situation has occurred, you need to lay the baby on a solid, flat surface. The head is turned to one side and held by hands. This will allow the baby not to choke in case of vomiting.
They undress the kid, and open a window in the room. Then they call an ambulance. The attack will end on its own in a few minutes. In this case, you need to monitor the breathing of the child.
Features of febrile seizures
In most cases, febrile seizures do not cause serious health consequences for the baby. However, you need to monitor his breathing during an attack. If it stops, artificial respiration must be performed. A spasm will also affect the airways. After a few minutes he passes. The child comes to life.
Often the baby after an attack is scared and disoriented. Parents should reassure him and explain what happened. Next, the baby is given an antipyretic. Doctors who come on call will have an injection that will prevent the development of a second attack.
After that, you will need to show the child to a neurologist. It is necessary to exclude the likelihood of developing serious pathologies. This is especially important if the seizures periodically recur. If this was an isolated case, do not worry. This situation is quite common among children of preschool and school age.
Epilepsy
Emergency medical care for a patient with seizures caused by epilepsy is no different from the above actions. The patient should not be tried to bring to feelings. It is necessary to minimize the likelihood of injury. During an attack, a lot of saliva can be released. Therefore, it is important to ensure that a person does not choke.
You also need to monitor your breathing. The attack goes away in a few minutes. You must also call an ambulance. Further, doctors will carry out the necessary actions that will be adequate in this situation.
Having considered the features of emergency care for convulsions, you can help the victim survive the attack with minimal loss to health. Each person will cope with a similar task.