Grand Mal Seizure Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is grand mal seizure?

It is characterized as violent contractions of muscles and unconsciousness. Unusual electrical activity that occurs throughout your brain tends to cause grand mal seizure. Usually, GMS is triggered by epilepsy. Moreover, in few instances, it is caused due to other health concerns, for example stroke, high fever or low blood sugar.

In most cases, individuals those experience GMS once never tends to experience another, though few individuals require regular anti-seizure drugs in order to control plus prevent GMS in future.

What are the symptoms of grand mal seizure?

It has 2 stages, have a quick look to each of its phase:

Tonic phase: unconsciousness occurs, whilst muscles tends to contract suddenly. The stage least for around ten-twenty seconds.
Clonic phase: rhythmic muscle contraction, which alternately relaxes and flexes. Mostly, the seizures last for at least ninety seconds.

Few common symptoms of grand mal seizure include:

Aura, prior a GMS.
Loss of bladder and bowel control.
Unresponsive after seizures.
Confusion.
Fatigue.
Severe headache.

What causes grand mal seizure?

Abnormal synchronization of electrical activity throughout your brain tends to cause grand mal seizures. It is also triggered by certain underlying conditions for example:

Infection or injury: stroke, injury because of insufficient oxygen, infections for example meningitis or encephalitis, traumatic head injuries.
Developmental or congenital abnormalities: brain tumors, genetic syndromes, malformation of blood vessel in a brain.
Metabolic disturbances: extreme low levels of magnesium, calcium, sodium or glucose.
Withdrawal syndromes: consuming or quitting drugs or alcohol.

What are the risk factors of grand mal seizure?

Heavy consumption of alcohol.
Illicit drug consumption.
Sleep deprivation.
In case seizure disorders run in your family.
Medical problems which affects the balance of electrolyte.
Any injury caused to the brain due to stroke, trauma, past infection etc.

What are the potential complications of grand mal seizure?

Force of convulsion or falling because of it can lead injury such as bone fractures, head injuries or joint dislocation. Moreover, in extreme instances, seizures can turn fatal, in case medications are not taken regularly or properly.

How is seizure diagnosed?

The doctor needs comprehensive detail regarding the seizure from the people who have actually witnessed it. In case of seizure, the doctor will conduct a neurological exam which tests the patient’s muscle condition. The doctor can recommend blood tests in order to determine the problem triggering or causing your seizures. Moreover, he or she can also suggest EEG and brain imaging for indentify abnormalities that may have occurred within your brain.

How is grand mal seizure treated?

Normally, a single GMS does not need treatment, however immediate medical attention is important in order to avoid epilepsy. However; for recurrent GMS, there are 3 treatments which are commonly used nowadays: