CONVULSIONS

Convulsions A convulsion is a series of involuntary violent contractions of voluntary muscles. CAUSES NEUROLOGICAL• Epilepsy• Febrile convulsions TRAUMATIC• Head injuries• Neurosurgery METABOLIC• Hypoxia• Glucose• electrolyte abnormalities e.g. calcium, sodium• Uraemia VASCULAR• Infarction• Subarachnoid haemorrhage• Intracranial haemorrhage INFECTIVE• Meningitis• Encephalitis• Cerebral abscess NEOPLASTIC• Brain tumours TOXIN/DRUG-INDUCED• Alcoholism/withdrawal• Amphetamines, cocaine, antipsychotics, ‘ecstasy’ HISTORY EventWhen evaluating patients