Question
My child has epilepsy, and in past episodes, there was only a loss of responsiveness. Recently, there have been unusual twitches. Could this be a sign of a severe epileptic seizure?
Answer
A severe epileptic seizure, also known as a generalized recurrence, is characterized by generalized convulsions and is often accompanied by prodromal symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, upper abdominal discomfort, and sensory and olfactory disturbances. During an episode, some patients may first emit a scream, followed by loss of consciousness and falling to the ground. This is accompanied by whole-body muscle rigidity, slow breathing, head and eyes tilting to one side, and after a few seconds, starts with clonic spasms that gradually become milder. Parents should take their child to the doctor promptly to control the epilepsy and avoid frequent recurrence.