Convulsive syndrome in children - causes of seizures, symptoms, methods of prevention

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Convulsive syndrome

- a nonspecific reaction of the child’s body to external and internal stimuli, characterized by sudden attacks of involuntary muscle contractions. The smaller the child, the more convulsive readiness he has. This is explained by the immaturity of some brain structures and nerve fibers, the high degree of permeability of the blood-brain barrier and the tendency to generalize any processes, as well as some other reasons.

Scary, but not always dangerous

Most parents experience childhood seizures, and often mothers and fathers are very frightened by what is happening. Meanwhile, convulsions do not necessarily mean mortal danger, and some are even common companions of growing up.

So, should we panic or not, and if we panic, then when? We decided to understand this issue with the help of Elena PARAMONOVA, a neurologist-epileptologist, founder, director and expert of the “Algorithm” center for epilepsy, paroxysmal conditions and sleep disorders.

Our expert: Elena Nikolaevna PARAMONOVA

She graduated from the Novosibirsk State Medical Institute in 1986, specializing in the field of neurology since 1992. In 1995, she became the first epileptologist in Novosibirsk.

Today he is a neurologist-epileptologist of the highest qualification category. Director and chief physician.

Epilepsy in children and adolescents

Guide for Parents

M.Yu. Nikanorova, E.D. Belousova, A.Yu. Ermakov

Compiled by:

Head of the Department of Psychoneurology and Epileptology of the Moscow Research Institute of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Head of the Children's Scientific and Practical Anticonvulsant Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Marina Yuryevna Nikanorova.

Leading researcher at the Department of Psychoneurology and Epileptology of the Moscow Research Institute of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Medical Sciences Elena Dmitrievna Belousova.

Senior Researcher of the Department of Psychoneurology and Epileptology of the Moscow Research Institute of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Medical Sciences Alexander Yurievich Ermakov.

Published with the support of Sanofi-Sintelabo

Dear parents!

This brochure is addressed to those who have a child in the family who suffers from epilepsy. If your child experiences epileptic seizures, you should, of course, consult a doctor. However, as practice shows, after the first consultation, parents still have many questions regarding the provision of emergency assistance in the event of an attack, treatment and prospects for the child’s further development. We hope that in this brochure you will find answers to your questions.

“Rolling up” when screaming and crying

— Elena Nikolaevna, what kind of seizures are typical for children?

— Very often parents are afraid of affective-respiratory attacks, simply “rolling up” when crying. In fact, these attacks look quite creepy - the child turns blue, falls, and bends over. Or there may also be pale fainting - often a reaction to pain, especially if you hit the back of your head, turned pale and fell. All parents are afraid of these conditions.

There are four types of affective respiratory attacks (ARAs).

The most common one is called simple ARP . Manifests itself in the form of holding the breath at the end of exhalation. Usually the result of frustration or trauma. There are no major changes in circulation or oxygenation and respiration occurs spontaneously.

Blue type . Typically caused by anger or frustration, although it can also be caused by pain. The child cries and makes a forced exhalation, sometimes there is cyanosis (blue color), loss of muscle tone and loss of consciousness. Most children regain consciousness, some fall asleep for an hour or two.

Pale type . The child turns pale (as opposed to the blue type) and loses consciousness; does not cry or cries a little.

Complicated type . It may simply be a more severe form of the previous two types. This type of attack begins as "blue" or "pale" and then develops into something like an epileptic seizure. The electroencephalogram outside the seizure is essentially normal.

- What to do?

- First of all, down with fear! The child needs to be brought out of this state: you can splash cold water on his face, you can wash him, slap him on the bottom or cheek, you can shake him sharply and blow into his mouth. Sometimes it helps to take the child out into the cold air, bring him to an open window. Any influence designed for a reflex reaction helps.

- Why do such conditions arise?

- These conditions are hereditary. Often in the doctor’s office, when asked if this happened to someone close to them, adults begin to remember what, yes, happened to their brother, grandmother, sister...

— Such attacks last a lifetime?

- No no. These attacks disappear after five years. But, dear parents, keep in mind that much in this matter depends on you! In families where parents have thoroughly studied the issue, listened to the doctor’s advice, understood everything and are not afraid of anything, these conditions go away quite painlessly.

“But when parents react hysterically, the child may develop neurosis. It happens that sometimes children with affective-respiratory attacks realize that their parents are afraid of such conditions, and begin to simulate them, because our children are very smart creatures who can use any means to achieve a goal (laughs). Remember that a lot depends on how the parents behave.

Febrile seizures

—Children often have convulsions at elevated temperatures. Please tell us about them.

— There are typical febrile convulsions at a body temperature of 38.5 and above (this temperature is called febrile). They are characterized by the following signs:

firstly, age from one to five;

secondly, the duration is no longer than five minutes;

thirdly, these are generalized seizures (spread throughout the body), in other words, the child either “pulls” or “hits” the whole body.

” — 5% of the world's children are susceptible to such seizures, and only in 5% of these five such seizures can be the onset of epilepsy. The remaining 95% exceeded the age of five and entered adulthood as healthy people. Just keep in mind that their children can also exhibit such cramps.

— There are atypical febrile attacks. This is a much more dangerous condition. Contact your doctor immediately if you observe the following signs:

firstly, seizures begin before the age of one year (especially before 6 months!) or after five years;

secondly, body temperature 37.5;

thirdly, they are focal in nature, that is, a spasm passes through one half of the body, and the other is not involved.

These are very dangerous conditions because they indicate brain diseases - the occurrence of neoplasms or the development of structural temporal lobe epilepsy.

-Elena Nikolaevna, what diseases can trigger febrile seizures in children?

— Absolutely any, each person individually. Some people experience convulsions due to a sore throat, some due to pneumonia, some due to a rotavirus infection, or the flu. To be fair, it should be noted that even an adult can react to a temperature of 40 with the flu with a cramp.

WHAT IS EPILEPSY

Epilepsy (the ancient Greek word “Epylepsis”) translated means something like “to collect, accumulate.” Epilepsy is a disease known since ancient times. For a long time, there was a mystical idea of epilepsy among people. In ancient Greece, epilepsy was associated with witchcraft and magic and was called a “sacred disease.” It was believed that epilepsy was associated with the possession of spirits and the devil in the body. God sent it to a person as punishment for an unrighteous life.

Mention of epilepsy is also found in the Gospel of St. Mark and from St. Luke, where Christ’s healing of a boy from the devil who had entered his body is described. In the Middle Ages, attitudes towards epilepsy were ambivalent. On the one hand, epilepsy caused fear as a disease that could not be cured, on the other hand, it was often associated with obsession and trances observed among saints and prophets. Christian theologians noted that certain passages of the Koran indicate that Mohammed suffered from epilepsy. His attacks were accompanied by drooping of the eyeballs, convulsive movements of the lips, sweating, snoring, and lack of reaction to the environment. It is assumed that St. also suffered from epilepsy. John and St. Valentin.

The fact that many great people (Socrates, Plato, Empedocles, Mohammed, Pliny, Julius Caesar, Caligula, Petrarch, Emperor Charles V) suffered from epilepsy served as a prerequisite for the spread of the theory that epileptics are people of great intelligence. However, later (XVIII century) epilepsy often began to be identified with madness. Patients with epilepsy were hospitalized in mental homes or separately from other patients. Hospitalization of patients with epilepsy in insane asylums and isolation from other patients continued until 1850. In 1849, and then in 1867, the first specialized clinics for patients with epilepsy were organized in England and Germany.

For many decades, epilepsy was considered a single disease. Currently, the concept of epilepsy has changed significantly. According to modern concepts, epilepsy is a group of different diseases, the main manifestation of which is epileptic seizures. Based on the achievements of modern science, it has been shown that an epileptic attack occurs as a result of disturbances in the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cells of the cerebral cortex. The brain consists of a dense plexus of nerve cells interconnected. Cells convert the excitation perceived by the senses into an electrical impulse and transmit it further in the form of an electrical impulse. Therefore, an epileptic attack can be compared to an electrical discharge like a thunderstorm in nature.

Not every seizure is epilepsy. Any child can experience seizures at least once in certain situations, for example, at a high temperature (febrile seizures), after vaccination, or with severe traumatic brain injury. In the presence of a single episode of seizures, it is always necessary to establish the specific cause that caused them and determine whether the transition of certain seizures to epilepsy is possible. It should also be remembered that many serious diseases of the nervous system, such as encephalitis and meningitis, can begin with seizures accompanied by fever. It is important for parents to identify symptoms in children, so whenever you experience seizures in your child, you should consult a doctor.

A classic example of situation-dependent seizures, caused only by a specific provoking factor (fever), is febrile seizures. Febrile seizures are seizures that occur between 3 months and 5 years of age and are associated with fever. Infections of the nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis), often accompanied by high fever and convulsions, do not belong to this group. The incidence of febrile seizures is 3–5% in the pediatric population. As a rule, a convulsive attack in a child occurs against the background of a concomitant disease (usually a respiratory viral infection) and is caused by a rise in temperature to high numbers. If a convulsive attack is short (within a few minutes) in nature, then, as a rule, it does not have a damaging effect on the brain.

It is important to note that the symptoms of epilepsy in a child under one year old and a teenager are completely different, that there are simple and complex febrile seizures. Simple febrile seizures account for 80-90% of all febrile seizures. Characteristic features of simple febrile seizures are:

• short duration (no more than 15 minutes);

• generalized tonic-clonic paroxysms (loss of consciousness, stretching and tension of the limbs, their symmetrical twitching). Complex febrile seizures are characterized by the following features:

• repeatability within 24 hours;

• duration more than 15 minutes;

• focal (focal) character - looking away upward or to the side, twitching of one limb or part of a limb, stopping gaze, etc.

Differentiation of febrile seizures into simple and complex is of fundamental importance for prognosis of the course of the disease. In most cases, febrile seizures have a favorable prognosis and disappear on their own after 5-6 years. Only 4-5% of children with febrile seizures subsequently develop into epilepsy. Complex febrile seizures most often transform into epilepsy. Therefore, children who have suffered at least one episode of complex febrile seizures constitute a risk group and require careful and long-term (up to 5-7 years) observation by both a pediatrician and a neurologist.

Other situations in which so-called “random” seizures are possible are mineral deficiency (calcium, magnesium), low blood sugar (in children with diabetes), poisoning, electrical injury, sunstroke. These seizures are usually rare, often one-time in nature and do not occur in the absence of a provoking factor.

The diagnosis of “epilepsy” can only be established if the child has had 2 or more epileptic seizures that occurred without clear provoking factors. Thus, the main difference between epilepsy and seizures is:

Seizures in adolescence

— Can convulsions be a companion to growth, that is, they occur in adolescence and go away over time?

— Of course, after all, during puberty (puberty is the period of puberty, usually 12-16 years for girls and 13-18 years for boys), the body undergoes restructuring, and it happens that it cannot cope with the stress. At this age, what is more common is not even convulsions, but convulsive fainting (pulling and going limp), as well as simply fainting - going limp and dripping like ice cream. They occur when there is strong excitement (boys are afraid of injections, for example). They happen from standing for a long time (girls faint at school assemblies on September 1).

” To exclude suspicion of some other disease, parents need to know that a person “enters” into fainting, and adolescents describe their condition quite clearly: there is a feeling of lightheadedness, dizziness, ringing in the ears or congestion.

If everything happens this way, then it will go away with age, but a consultation with a neurologist is, of course, mandatory. Parents just need to understand that fainting is not a reason to panic.

Signs and symptoms

Myoclonic seizures indicate the occurrence of juvenile epilepsy.
They do not last long and are involuntary asynchronous muscle contractions. Most often, seizures occur in the morning, after waking up.

Muscle contractions usually involve only the arms and shoulder girdle, but in some cases they spread to the legs or even the entire body.

During an attack, patients may drop or throw away objects they were holding in their hands. If the lower extremities are involved in a seizure, adolescents fall.

Rarely, patients present with myoclonic status epilepticus. The patient does not lose consciousness. In 3-5% of cases, the disease occurs with only myoclonic seizures.

3 years after the first attack, in the vast majority of cases, tonic-clonic seizures develop.

They begin with increasing myoclonic twitching, which turns into clonic-tonic convulsions. 40% of such patients experience absence seizures. They lose consciousness for a short period.

Features of the manifestation of epilepsy in adolescents

Epilepsy in adolescents often develops between the ages of 10 and 12, but in some cases the first seizure occurs at age 17. Of course, parents are ready to do anything to cure their child.

To prevent further progression of the disease and the occurrence of generalized attacks, it is necessary to immediately undergo diagnosis so that the doctor can prescribe effective treatment.

Types and forms of the disease

Most often, patients experience the following forms of the disease:

Juvenile absence epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy , or Janz syndrome, most often begins in adolescence. Patients experience muscle twitching in the shoulder girdle and arms. They can be barely noticeable or very pronounced. After some time, generalized convulsions may appear. Attacks occur from once a day to once every few weeks. A seizure can be triggered by feelings of anxiety, forced awakening, insomnia, and drinking alcohol. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is characterized by a high relapse rate.

With generalized seizures - occurs in adolescence, seizures occur from 1 time per week to 1 time per year. Sometimes the addition of myoclonic seizures or absences is observed.

Catamenial epilepsy in girls. Characteristic only for girls. The appearance of epileptic seizures in teenage girls is associated with the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Features of the manifestation of epilepsy in adolescents

Epilepsy in adolescents often develops between the ages of 10 and 12, but in some cases the first seizure occurs at age 17. Of course, parents are ready to do anything to cure their child.

To prevent further progression of the disease and the occurrence of generalized attacks, it is necessary to immediately undergo diagnosis so that the doctor can prescribe effective treatment.

Diagnostics

To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination.

The child must be shown to a neurologist immediately after the first seizures appear. The specialist prescribes:

MRI to exclude the presence of tumors, hematomas, abscesses, etc.;

MR angiography to exclude cerebral aneurysm.

Treatment regimen

Patients should, if possible, avoid situations that can provoke attacks:

violations of the regime;
excessive physical and mental overload;
lack of sleep;
stressful situations;
drinking alcoholic beverages.

Many families with sick children move to live in the countryside, because a quiet life, fresh air, and nature have a beneficial effect on teenagers.

Patients are prescribed valproate. These medications can cope with any type of juvenile epilepsy.

If monotherapy is not enough, the doctor prescribes a combination treatment:

to relieve resistant absence seizures, valproate is combined with ethosuximide;
To relieve resistant clonic-tonic attacks, valproate is combined with Phenobarbital or Primidone.

To keep myoclonic seizures under control, Clonazepam is needed, but when they are completely stopped, the patient cannot sense in advance that he is about to have a seizure, since there are no myoclonic manifestations.

Because of this, Clonazepam is prescribed only in the presence of persistent myoclonic paroxysms. It must be combined with the drug Valproic acid.

New generation drugs, which include Topiramate, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam, are currently being tested in clinical settings. The high effectiveness of Levetiracetam has already been noted, so this drug is considered promising.

Prognosis and prevention

Adolescent epilepsy is considered a chronic disease. Spontaneous remission is rare. In 90% of patients who interrupted treatment, epileptic attacks return, but in some cases a long period of remission is observed.

When proper treatment is prescribed, in 80% of cases it is possible to completely rid the patient of seizures. The drugs are discontinued gradually over several years. This is done in order to completely eliminate relapse.

Juvenile epilepsy does not affect mental abilities in any way, so there is no need to worry about the child’s development.

Prevention consists of taking actions to prevent the occurrence of epileptic seizures.

This requires:

Timely diagnosis of chromosomal syndromes and various hereditary diseases.
Careful examination of pregnant women who are at high risk of giving birth to a child suffering from epilepsy. Most often this applies to women who take drugs and suffer from endocrine disorders.
Observation of children who were underweight at birth or had other deviations from the norm.
Conducting social events for patients with juvenile epilepsy.

Timely, competent diagnosis increases the chance that treatment will be effective. At the first suspicion of epilepsy, a child should be shown to a doctor.

He will develop an individual treatment plan. Its strict adherence guarantees a cure in most cases, so there is no need to despair.

About epilepsy in adolescents in this video:

Pediatricians systematically encounter neurological problems in children. They manifest themselves primarily by muscle contraction. The range of causes of these pathologies is very wide.

Cramps are a sudden (paroxysmal) involuntary contraction of muscle fibers in combination with pain. A spasm of the muscle mass causes a short-term distortion of the shape of the limb.

For a child, such attacks are dangerous with a high risk of injury, as the baby loses balance due to severe pain. A leg cramp can go higher and develop into a generalized form. Such convulsions increase the risk of respiratory arrest or brain swelling.

Regular muscle spasms are a symptom of a serious pathology, so they cannot be ignored!

Treatment

Treatment of seizures in children has its own characteristics. Unlike adults, medications are not allowed, and physiotherapy is carried out with caution. Diet and massage have worked well.

Diet

A balanced diet maintains vitamin and mineral levels. The menu is designed in such a way as to provide the growing body with everything it needs.

The weekly diet should include the following products:

Fruits and vegetables,
Milk, cheese, cottage cheese,
Dried fruits,
Greenery,
Cereals,
Eggs,
fish,
Lean meats,
Nuts.

Products and cooking methods are selected taking into account age. The listed components can be alternated to diversify the menu. Overeating is not allowed. It is advisable to eat in small portions 5-6 times a day. Dinner should be light.

Massage

This treatment can be performed on children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. The most effective would be to conduct sessions in a specialized salon - but if this is not possible, you can do the warm-up at home. Regardless of the location of the cramps, a massage of all legs is performed, including the following sequence:

Plantar surface of the foot
calf muscles,
Anterior surface of the leg,
Posterior thigh. Then the inner and the front.

The massage begins with light stroking, followed by rubbing. Jamming is done only in those areas where there is a thick layer of soft tissue.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic treatment is indicated only as prescribed by a doctor. The safest methods are:

UVT (ultrawave therapy),
Magnetotherapy,
Warming procedures.

Physiotherapeutic treatment is effective only in the presence of somatic pathologies that cause seizures. It is carried out twice a week, the child undergoes a routine examination at the request of the pediatrician.

Causes of seizures in children

The etiology of convulsions is varied. The reasons why a child’s legs cramp are divided into primary and secondary. Pediatricians recognize nervous disorders as the main factor in the appearance of this symptom.

Primary

These reasons directly affect muscle tone and trophism:

Excessive physical activity.

Children are very active during the day. Since their musculoskeletal system is still weak, muscle overstrain is possible. An excess amount of lactic acid is synthesized, which is the cause of the spasm.

A foot can also become cramped from walking in uncomfortable shoes or from excess weight.

When the shape of the foot changes, its system of distributing the load on the bones, joints and ligaments of the foot is disrupted. This leads to their fatigue. The result is muscle cramps in the feet, legs and even fingers.

Ischemia (oxygen starvation) of limb tissues.

The causes of leg cramps in a child can be: atherosclerosis, thrombosis, embolism, other disorders in the blood vessels, or a long-term uncomfortable position in which the arteries are pinched.

Secondary

Certain diseases indirectly affect muscle tissue, causing cramps:

Imbalance of micronutrient metabolism.

Magnesium and calcium are involved in the process of myocyte contraction; their deficiency is associated with poor nutrition or hormonal disease.
Iron is an essential component for hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. Iron deficiency will lead to anemia, which will lead to ischemia and seizures.

Anemia (“anemia”) is a disease characterized by low hemoglobin levels.

Lack of vitamins.

Mainly in infants. Muscles require minerals and vitamins to function. With a lack of the latter, the threshold of excitability of myocytes decreases, which leads to their contraction even with a weak nerve impulse. The result is seizures.

Glucose is used by cells as an energy substrate for all processes in the body. Its deficiency (diet, diabetes, pancreatic cancer) leads to myocyte dysfunction.

Irritation of the motor areas of the central nervous system.

Causes: neuroinfections (complications of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections), stroke, alcohol or drug poisoning (toxic effect on the nerve fiber sheath), pinched peripheral nerve (spinal pathologies, fractures).

Frequent stress and emotional overstrain disrupts the functioning of neurons.

Sudden changes in body temperature.

Young children experience convulsions during fever (ARVI) or as a result of sunstroke. The reason is a violation of adequate blood supply to the peripheral nerves and brain.

Cases of drowning due to leg cramps often occur when swimming in cold water.

Causes of cramping a teenager's legs

Pathological conditions, which, in fact, are not an independent disease, but at the same time disrupt the patient’s usual lifestyle, occur quite often. An example of such a condition is, for example, myoclonus, when the legs often cramp.

This condition is characterized by involuntary contraction or overstrain of one (several) muscle groups. It is especially unpleasant when cramps suddenly appear at night, which requires mandatory medical consultation and diagnosis, since sometimes leg cramps can be an indicator of some serious diseases.

10 most common causes of seizures

The causes of seizures are quite diverse, but the etiology of the disease is not well understood.

Most often, the provocateurs of the pathological condition are:

Physical fatigue

The calf muscles become overstrained during long walks, long-distance running and physical activity, which leads to the development of cramps.

Tonic - characterized by fairly prolonged muscle tension, atonic - by short-term contraction and relaxation.

However, in some diseases (intoxication, cardiac dysfunction, vitamin deficiency, traumatic brain injury, etc.), both types of seizures may occur.

Dehydration

The second most common cause of leg cramps is sudden dehydration, especially during the hot season, during intense sports training or visiting a sauna.

In this case, the work of the sweat glands increases, and along with moisture, the body loses a sufficient amount of minerals (magnesium, calcium, sodium) necessary for the body, which provokes muscle spasms.

In addition, a similar condition can occur in patients when the treatment of the disease involves taking diuretics, for example, for hypertension or cardiovascular insufficiency. The effects of these drugs are sometimes accompanied by seizures, especially at night.

Water-electrolyte imbalance

Another predisposing factor for leg cramps is considered to be an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory signals that enter the calf muscle, as well as an increased contractile muscle reflex.

This condition is observed when the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid) decreases, which leads to a deterioration in metabolic processes in the muscles of the lower extremities and a decrease in their relaxation.

In addition, the legs may cramp due to pathological changes in the blood vessels, for example, with an increase in blood viscosity, etc.

Hyperthermia and stress

At temperatures above 38 degrees, cramps may occur in any part of the body, including in the legs. This condition is especially common in childhood. In addition, during various stressful situations and nervous breakdowns, there is a sharp release of adrenaline into the blood, which, in turn, helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide with subsequent cramps in the legs.

Hyperparathyroidism

The parathyroid glands are located close to the thyroid gland. Their function is to regulate phosphoric acid metabolism in the patient’s body.

A characteristic symptom of the disease is muscle spasm of the respiratory muscles, convulsive contractions of the leg muscles, fingers and toes.

Along with spastic contractions, the patient may experience pain in the abdomen, insomnia and increased irritability.

Hypoparathyroidism

With a lack of calcium in the body caused by hypoparathyroidism, repeated cramps in the calf muscles are observed. Cramps can be short-term or prolonged, involving one or more muscles. In addition, the patient experiences a decrease in immune strength, increased brittleness of nails, deterioration of hair structure, etc.

Calcium is especially important for pregnant women, adolescents and patients on certain diets. The daily requirement of calcium is from 1000 to 1500 mcg per day.

A sufficient amount of this trace element is found in dairy products, nuts, soy products, cabbage and parsley.

In addition, when the cause of convulsive contraction of the calf muscles is due to hypoparathyroidism, it is necessary to take vitamin D, since it promotes maximum absorption of phosphorus and calcium.

Polyneuritis

With this disease, multiple damage to nerve endings is observed. The main causes of polyneuritis are viral infections, hypovitaminosis, intoxication, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic disorders.

The disease is accompanied by cramps in the legs, especially at night, paresthesia (a feeling of “crawling crawling”) and numbness of the limbs. The patient is worried about headaches and dizziness, hearing loss, pain in the heart and increased irritability.

Varicose veins

Quite often, convulsions occur against the background of varicose veins, in which the veins dilate and the venous valves weaken, which leads to stretching of the venous walls and stagnation of blood. In addition to cramps, the patient is bothered by heaviness in the legs, pain, swelling and difficulty walking.

To improve blood circulation in case of varicose veins and prevent the development of seizures, it is necessary to use a special elastic bandage and avoid tight belts.

In addition, it is recommended to give up the habit of crossing your legs while sitting, since this body position significantly worsens venous blood flow.

In case of severe or chronic development of the process, surgical intervention is recommended.

Ankle curvature

Often the causes of cramps are due to a joint defect such as clubfoot, when the heel area constantly tilts inward, causing a curvature of the ankle. This defect is especially evident in women who wear high-heeled shoes.

When walking, the legs quickly get tired, pain appears in the calf muscles and knee area, and the veins of the legs and feet dilate, which leads to the development of convulsive syndrome, and in the absence of corrective treatment, to a serious violation of posture.

Pregnancy

As a result of hormonal changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy, blood flow is disrupted due to compression of the venous plexuses by the uterus. The effect of hormones helps to soften the venous walls, which are often damaged due to sudden changes in pressure, especially during labor.

As a rule, seizures occur at night. In women, in the late afternoon, the upper part of the leg, foot, and lower leg swell, and numbness and heaviness are felt in the calf muscles.

Such symptoms require careful monitoring by the attending physician, with constant monitoring and comparative characteristics of the changes occurring.

If necessary, a decision is made on possible therapeutic treatment, taking into account the severity of the woman’s condition and the danger to the child.

Drug therapy

It should be borne in mind that there are no special drugs for the treatment of seizures. All of them are prescribed in accordance with the established diagnosis, the frequency of seizures and the presence of any chronic diseases in the patient.

The only common cure for seizures is medications that contain a balanced complex of vitamins and minerals. In addition, as an additional remedy, the doctor may recommend taking magnesium and muscle relaxants, which have a relaxing effect on muscle tissue.

The most effective mineral and vitamin complexes against leg cramps include:

Magne-B6, Alphabet;
Calcium-D3 Nycomed;
Alfadol-Sa, Complivit, etc.
Magnesium preparations used to prevent the development of seizures are:
Natural Kalm, Magnerot;
Diasporal; Magnistad;
Asparkam, Magnelis B6;
Solgar with magnesium citrate, etc.

The group of muscle relaxants includes:

Baclofen, Tolperisone;
Sirdolud, Mydocalm, etc.

Such drugs relieve convulsive attacks and pathological symptoms due to the warming and anti-inflammatory effect exerted on the vessels of the lower extremities.

Treatment of seizures with folk remedies

In addition to drug therapy, the pathological condition can be treated using traditional medicine. Thanks to such recipes, you can significantly reduce the frequency of seizures, and in some cases, get rid of them completely.

The following recipes are considered the most effective:

To relieve convulsive contractions, it is necessary to apply slightly warmed honey to the calf area, on top of which a layer of cling film is applied, and then insulation. The time for keeping such a compress on the leg is no more than half an hour, after which the remaining honey is washed off with warm water;
for cramps due to varicose veins, it is recommended to rub the legs with apple cider vinegar, as well as take apple cider vinegar orally 2 times a day, after dissolving 2 tbsp. spoons of vinegar in 200 ml of slightly warmed water. The general course of treatment is at least 1 month;
To prevent leg cramps, it is recommended to mix 1 egg yolk with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of turpentine. After thorough mixing, this solution is rubbed into the calves before bed;
to prevent the development of cramps, you can rub your feet with mustard powder or freshly squeezed lemon juice;
Celandine juice (1 part) is mixed with 2 parts of Vaseline and applied to the legs when a cramping seizure begins, which allows you to stop it at the initial stage.

Despite the sufficient effectiveness and safety of folk recipes, you should consult your doctor before using them, since there may be cases of individual intolerance to some herbal components.

Urgent Care

If cramps in the leg area occur frequently, you need to know what to do in an emergency to get rid of such symptoms:

It is recommended to pull the toes of the cramped leg towards you, and if it is difficult to reach, you can use a towel or belt to tighten the toes;
in the case when there is nothing at hand that could help, you can stand with your whole foot on your toes, so that the foot bends upward as much as possible, then relax and stretch the calf muscle;
It is necessary to massage the leg muscle starting from the tips of the fingers, towards the knee, as well as pinching and patting the leg.

Source: //women-land.ru/varikoz/svodit-nogi-u-podrostka-prichiny.html

What do seizures indicate?

Muscle spasms are indicators of the presence of various pathologies in the body:

Flat feet.
Lack of microelements or vitamins.
Diseases of the central nervous system or a genetic predisposition to their development.
Uncomfortable position of the legs for sleeping or hypothermia of the child at night.
Sunstroke or very high temperature due to an infectious disease.

Causes

All causes of seizures can be divided into epileptic (epilepsy) and non-epileptic.

Non-epileptic:

Spasmophilia.
Overheating.
Encephalitis, meningitis, brain injuries and infections.
Toxoplasmosis.
Metabolic disorders, primarily potassium and calcium metabolism, for one reason or another.
For newborns - hemolytic disease, congenital lesions of the nervous system, asphyxia.
Various hormonal disorders.
In acute infectious diseases, especially with a rise in temperature to febrile levels.
Intoxication and poisoning.
Hereditary metabolic diseases.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular and hematopoietic systems.

First aid for leg and body cramps

In case of convulsions throughout the entire muscular frame, similar to an epileptic attack, an adult needs to pull himself together, calm down and follow the instructions:

Call an ambulance.
The child must be placed on a flat, soft surface.
Unbutton the patient's clothing that restricts movement and breathing.
Provide access to fresh air: take the child outside or open a window.
Wrap a knotted napkin, medical spatula, spoon handle (or other available items) with cotton wool or a bandage. Place the resulting bag between your molars. For these purposes, you can use a soft rag or towel.

This manipulation will help avoid injury to the oral cavity.

Do not insert metal objects between your teeth without wrapping them in something soft. Anything harder than enamel will damage it.

Wait for the ambulance to arrive.

Next comes the medical tactics:

Intravenous injection of anticonvulsants or tranquilizers.
Oxygen therapy.

A local spasm can develop into a generalized form, seizing the muscles of the respiratory system. To alleviate the condition and maintain consciousness, the required level of oxygen is artificially maintained.

Writing out a referral to see a neurologist or hospitalization in the neurological department to identify the causes of the disease and draw up a treatment plan.

With localized spasm of an individual muscle or limb, the tactics change. Most often, a child's calf muscle is affected by a cramp.

In such a situation, the following algorithm of actions:

Ask the baby to pull the sock. If this is not possible, then help straighten the foot. The muscle will stretch, causing short-term pain, after which the cramp will go away. If the condition does not improve, then the action is repeated until the muscles relax.
Ask the child to walk around to improve tissue blood flow. Ischemia (oxygen starvation) will pass and muscle relaxation will occur.
To improve blood supply, you can use a leg massage or heat: apply a heating pad or take a warm bath.

First aid

If a child has periodic seizures, parents should know the immediate measures to eliminate them. Such actions are aimed at reducing pain and duration of the attack, preventing complications and injuries.

First aid for seizures in children:

Place your baby on a flat surface where the risk of injury is minimal. Remove all objects that could injure the child.
Place the baby on his side with his head on the pillow - this will prevent suffocation from vomit.
If the baby is out of breath, bring a cotton swab with ammonia. It is recommended to keep the bottle with you at all times,
If you have a fever, perform a wet wipe, you can turn on the fan.

Important!
The parent's task is to prevent the child from falling out of bed or getting injured. It is strictly forbidden to take any medications without the approval of a doctor; you cannot forcefully bend or straighten limbs, or try to fix the baby in a certain position.

After an attack, rest is indicated - put the child in bed, cover with a blanket and provide a flow of fresh air. You can bring sweet tea or compote.

Treatment of seizures in children

Single attacks of convulsions are usually not associated with serious pathology. When a child experiences muscle spasms regularly, it is necessary to immediately visit a pediatrician. The doctor will most likely refer the little patient to a neurologist.

How to treat seizures depends on the etiology:

Anticonvulsants: diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam and other benzodiazepine derivatives.
For excessive pain, anesthetics (sodium hydroxybutyrate).
To prevent cerebral edema - a diuretic (mannitol, furosemide).
For metabolic disorders - intravenous administration of solutions of glucose, calcium, magnesium, potassium.
To stop an attack, use anticonvulsants: phenobarbital, seduxen.
In order to eliminate hypovitaminosis - intravenous administration of B vitamins.
If the child’s condition worsens, artificial ventilation is required.
Muscle relaxants.
If it's hot, lower the temperature.
If a child has convulsions of unknown or infectious origin, then he must be hospitalized for assistance and diagnosis.

The listed drugs have a large number of contraindications and complications. A doctor's consultation is required. Taking them on your own is strictly PROHIBITED!

Epilepsy in children and adolescents

Guide for parents
M.Yu. Nikanorova, E.D. Belousova, A.Yu. Ermakov

Compiled by:

Published with the support of Sanofi-Sintelabo

Dear parents!

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