Convulsive syndrome in children

Convulsive syndrome is considered an involuntary contraction of the muscles, which occurs under the influence of pathological impulses from the central nervous system and is accompanied by a syncope. The frequency of its occurrence in children is high, and they can be general or local, repetitive or single.

Causes of seizures

Convulsive syndrome in children can be of organic origin or functional. Organic convulsions occur as a result of CNS diseases, and functional cases occur due to poisoning, cerebral circulation disorders, toxic foodborne infections, congenital heart disease and fever.

In newborns, in the first 3 days after birth, in most cases, seizures occur as a result of organic brain lesions, and later they are associated with a change in the concentration of potassium and calcium in the blood. In premature infants, this may be due to a hemorrhage inside the ventricles of the brain.

Febrile convulsions occur against the background of increased body temperature (above 38 degrees). At the same time, the state of the brain and its membranes does not suffer, but perinatal encephalopathy (hypoxia after birth) is usually revealed.

Young children can be prone to convulsions in case of violation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which is called spasmophilia.

At nervous children on a background of an overstrain from pavor or anger affectively-respiratory convulsions can happen.

Hemolytic disease can also lead to seizures.

Clinical picture

Convulsive syndrome in children almost always develops suddenly, while the child becomes active, his look "wanders", his head throws back, and his jaw closes. The upper limbs bend in the elbow and wrist joints, and the legs straighten. There is cyanosis (blue) of the skin. After the end of seizures, a deep breath occurs, the skin turns pale, the child can fall asleep.

Depending on the zone of the CNS lesion, clonic or tonic convulsions may be observed. In clonic muscles, the facial and limb muscles contract for a short time, and the tonic convulsions are prolonged and lead to the forced position of parts of the body.

Due to the immaturity of the brain structures in newborns, the clinical picture of the attack consists only in the occurrence of apnea (respiratory arrest).

Diagnostics

Revealing the causes of seizures is a long and complicated matter, therefore, diagnostics should be carried out by specialists.

Depending on the cause of their occurrence, manifestations will also be different. The details are important for the diagnosis, so the mother will have to clarify everything: how the attack began, how long it lasted, how the child looked, what happened after the end of the attack, what circumstances preceded him, and whether it happened before.

It may be necessary to donate blood for the maintenance of potassium and calcium, and also make an electroencephalogram.

Febrile convulsions in children are not difficult to diagnose, because they always occur against the background of high fever. They do not represent the dangers to the child, and the electroencephalogram does not reveal any changes in the brain.

Treatment

Convulsive syndrome in children requires adequate treatment, but first aid is given to the child, because the attack ends sooner than the ambulance arrives.

During an attack it is necessary:

- Put the child on his knees with his head turned to his side

- Do not hold the child by force

- Provide access to fresh air (unfasten clothing, open window)

- Remove items about which the child may be injured

- Try to put a tissue roller in your mouth to prevent biting the tongue

- Remove the vomit and mucus from the mouth with a syringe, pear or finger (wrapped bandage)

If there were affective-respiratory cramps, but the child is conscious, it is necessary to give him a sniff of cotton wool soaked with ammonia.

If convulsive syndrome in children occurs due to temperature, it is necessary to monitor its increase and not to allow numbers above 38 degrees, using paracetamol.

All other medications can be given to a child only after consulting a specialist. Treatment can be lengthy.