Question

What is the operational definition of seizure?

Answer 1

Seizures-a manifestation of a brain abnormality, if there is an irregular electrical activity in the brain the patient will most likely experience seizure. Seizure may be cause of various health conditions few examples are meningitis, congenital brain defect, epilepsy, head trauma and electrolyte imbalance.

Types of seizure:

1. Generalized Seizures - a seizure that originates in both cerebral hemispheres.

Tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures - these type of seizure have 2 parts

• Tonic - the patient initially stiffens and loses consciousness, causing them to fall to the ground. The person’s eyes roll back into their head as the muscles including those in the chest, arms and legs contract and the back arches. The tonic phase will typically last no longer than a minute.
• Clonic - usually following the tonic phase, the clonic phase will start as the muscles begin to spasm and jerk. The elbows, legs and head will flex then relax rapidly at first, but the frequency of the spasms will gradually subside until they cease altogether.  As the jerking stops, it is common for the person to let out a deep sigh, after which normal breathing resumes. The clonic phase will rarely last longer than a few minutes.

Atonic Seizures - the muscles of the patients arms, legs, or trunk tense up. These usually last less than 20 seconds and often happen when the patient is asleep.

Myoclonic seizure - the patients muscles suddenly jerk as if they've been shocked. They may start in the same part of the brain as an atonic seizure, and some people have both myoclonic and atonic seizures.

Absense Seizure - most common in children under 14. They usually last only a few seconds, patient may not remember having seizure. Patient seem disconnected from others around her and don’t respond to them. Patient may stare blankly into space, and eyes might roll back in her head.

2. Focal Seizures - are seizures which affect initially only one hemisphere of the brain.

• Simple focal seizures - patients may not likely to lose consciousness, but might feel sweaty or nauseated.
• Complex focal seizures - These usually happen in the part of your brain that controls emotion and memory. A patient might look awake but already lose consciousness.
• Secondary generalized seizure - these start in one part of your brain and spread to the nerve cells on both sides. They can cause some of the same physical symptoms as a generalized seizure, like convulsions or muscle slackness.