Fits, convulsions and seizures all mean the same thing – when your muscles move or spasm without you meaning them to. Lots of ordinary people have one or two fits in their life. However, when it happensmore than a couple of times, it’s called Epilepsy.
What Are Fits?
A seizure happens when a piece of the brain turns on when it isn’t supposed to.
This sends strong electrical impulses through the rest of the brain like an electrical storm – causing the person to become unconscious and all the muscles to spasm.
As the person is unconscious, they don’t know it is happening – and often they lose control of their bladder and wet themselves. This type of all-over seizure is called a generalised or “grand mal” fit.
Sometimes only a small part of the brain is affected – called partial epilepsy.
What Causes Fits?
In most people, we don’t know the cause.
Sometimes an abnormality of the brain such as a cyst or a scar from past damage causes the brain cells to fire off without warning. Some types of epilepsy disappear as you grow older – but some types stay for life.
Doctors work out the type of fit someone has from their EEG (electroencephalogram) – a brain-wave scan that diagnoses epilepsy.
What Are Fever Fits?
Fever-fits (febrile convulsions) are a type of fit that happens in young children with a very high fever.
They are not true epilepsy, as they are caused by the brain becoming irritable with a very high temperature.
Can You Prevent Fits?
Fever fits in young children can be prevented by stopping their temperature going too high – using paracetamol. Other fits can only be prevented by medications called anti-convulsants – such as Carbamazepine or Valproate. These medications work to damp down abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
What Do You Do If Someone Is Having A Fit?
Roll them onto their side with their mouth pointing downwards – this is called the Recovery Position.
It’s the safest position for ANY unconscious person. Then call an ambulance and stay with the person.
Three Important Don’ts:
– don’t try to give mouth to mouth to a fitting person;
– don’t try to stop their arms or legs shaking;
– don’t worry that they will swallow their tongue, and don’t try to get their tongue out (you will just get bitten).
