Grand Mal Seizure: Introduction

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A grand mal seizure is also referred as tonic-clonic seizure or gran mal seizures. Abnormal electrical activities throughout the brain give rise to grand mal seizure. It affects entire body and generally involves violent muscle contractions, muscle rigidity, and unconsciousness. It may start with limbs stiffening (the tonic phase), followed by limbs and face jerking (the clonic phase). A seizure usually lasts only a few minutes and patients himself will never be able to remember what happened. People of all ages may affect by grand mal seizure and it occurs at once.

Grand mal seizure is divided into two phases which are as follows

1. Tonic Phase-Unconsciousness is followed by body stiffening. Sometimes breathing may slow down or stop results in a blueing) of the nail beds, lips and face. It is lasts for few seconds and it is shortest part of the seizure.
2. Clonic phase- In this phase muscles will start to contract and relax rapidly and it happen for less than two minutes. Sometimes tongue becomes bitten and eyes typically roll back. Irregular breathing starts in clonic phase.

Symptoms of Grand Mal Seizure

• Aura-Some patients experience warning or strong feeling before a grand mal seizure.
• Loss of consciousness or responsiveness.
• Arms, legs become rigid and general muscle contraction.
• Involuntarily passes urine and stool.
• Blue skin color.
• Confusion, Headache, Weakness, Fatigue are symptoms shown after seizure.

Causes of Grand Mal Seizure

• Imbalance levels of blood acids, blood sugar, sodium, or calcium
• Reactions happen because of illegal drugs may cause grand mal seizure
• Injury caused to specific area of brain, stress on brain may be responsible to cause seizure.
• Withdrawal from alcohol or drugs or heavy use of this.
• Tumors, brain lesions, Diabetes, Kidney failure, chronic infections
  

First Aid of Grand Mal Seizure

1. Take away objects from patients may cause injury.
2. Turn the patient to one side of his/her if it vomits.
3. Don’t put anything into mouth.
4. Try to position the head if a patient becomes blue or stop breathing.

Treatments of Grand Mal Seizure

Other treatment Many anti-seizure drugs are used. Injections given to the patients are Lorazepam, Antiseizure drugs such as phenytoin or phenobarbital, Diazepam.