Introduction
Fits, also known as seizures, occur due to sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures may be so mild that they can even go unnoticed or can be severe enough to cause violent shaking, which might result in serious injury.
You may get fits just once, or they may keep coming back. When they are recurring, it is called epilepsy. Out of every 10 people with seizures, about 1 may get epilepsy.
Different types of fits?
Depending upon the area of the brain where a fit starts, it can be classified into the following types:
Generalised Seizures: Generalised seizures start simultaneously in both parts of the brain. The most commonly occurring generalised seizures are:
- Tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
- Absence (petit mal) seizures
- Febrile seizures
Focal (partial) Seizures: Focal-onset seizures start in only one part of the brain and may later spread to the other areas. They are of two types:
- Focal-onset aware seizures
- Focal-onset impaired awareness seizures
Symptoms of fits
Symptoms of fits can vary according to the type. The most commonly observed symptoms are:
- Sudden, uncontrollable movements of the body, especially hands and legs
- Stiffening of the muscles of arms and legs, followed by loosening
- Locking of teeth, tongue biting
- Sweating
- Staring into the blank
- Unconsciousness
- Sudden falling to the ground
- Confusion
- Feeling of fear or déjà vu
- Frequent blinking
What are the causes of fits?
Several medical conditions can result in a seizure, as anything that affects the body can also affect the brain, precipitating a seizure. In many cases, no cause of fits may be found, especially for seizures in children. Seizures also tend to run in families, so you may be at a higher risk of having a fit if you have a positive family history. Some causes of fits are listed below:
- Â Brain tumour
- Â Infection of the brain
- Brain injury
- Brain defects at birth
- Very low blood sugar level
- Extremely high blood pressure
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Alcohol or substance withdrawal
- Electric shock
- Epilepsy
- High fever
- Stroke
- Electrolyte imbalance
When to see a doctor if you have fits?
You should consult a doctor even if you had just one episode of fit because your doctor will try to rule out any underlying serious medical condition. Treatment might be initiated if you have a second episode of fit within 12 months of the first one. Once started, you must continue the treatment strictly as prescribed and not attempt to stop it abruptly. You should inform your treating physician if you notice any side effects such as mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc., after starting the medications.
Consult an expert neuro physician who has successfully handled a lot of cases of fits.
Treatment for Fits
If you only had a single episode of fit, you may not require any treatment, but if the fits are recurring, treatment is required to reduce the frequency.
The treatment approach for fits depends upon the cause and the type of seizure. The different treatment options for fits include:
- Anti-seizure medications
- Brain surgery
- Nerve stimulation
Your neuro physician would recommend the most appropriate treatment approach for your fits after taking into consideration all the above parameters. To book an appointment, contact Yashoda Hospitals, India https://www.yashodahospitals.com
Conclusion
Getting an episode of fit can be an unnerving feeling. It could be just a one-off episode of disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain for any reason and is usually not a cause for concern. However, if the fits are recurrent, a thorough investigation is needed to rule out any serious underlying condition. Do not hesitate to take the recommended treatment, as it will markedly reduce the frequency of fits and improve your quality of life.
