What To Do

When Someone is Having

Fits ?

DR. BITHIKA SHUKLA

2/11/2015

Dr B Shukla

The First Question is

What is Epilepsy / Fits?

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Dr B Shukla

What is Epilepsy or Fits?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological
disorder characterized by a tendency
to have recurrent seizures
Epilepsy is also known as Seizure
Disorder

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Dr B Shukla

So, What is a Seizure?

A brief, excessive discharge of
electrical activity in the brain that
alters one or more of the following:
Movement
Sensation
Behavior
Awareness

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Dr B Shukla

What does all this

mean ?

Let us try to understand this

in a simpler manner.
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Dr B Shukla

How Does The Brain

Control Our Body ?

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Dr B Shukla

1. The brain sends out an electrical

message.
2. The electrical message moves
through the body (with the help
of neurons).

3. The electrical message

reaches different parts of the
body eg the hand and makes
it move (by affecting
muscles).
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Dr B Shukla

In epilepsy, there is a
problem with the
electrical messages
in the brain.

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Dr B Shukla

 People with epilepsy

experience sudden
bursts of electricity in
their brain - called a
SEIZURE.

Seizures disrupt the

normal working of the
brain for a short time.
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Dr B Shukla

Seizures May Be

GENERALIS
ED

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OR

Dr B Shukla

FOCAL

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In a
generalized
seizure the
electrical
disruption
involves the
entire brain.

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..And the patient experiences

Generalised Tonic ,Clonic Convulsions which are
also known as Seizures or Fits

Tonic
(stiffening)

Clonic
(jerking)
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Why do We All need to Know

about Epilepsy ?

Epilepsy can take effect

suddenly, at any time ,without
warning.
We can all help people with
epilepsy to stay safe
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Common Causes of Epilepsy

For seventy percent (70%) of
people with epilepsy the cause is
unknown
For the remaining thirty percent (30%)
common identifiable causes include:

Brain trauma
Brain lesions (e.g. tumors)
Poisoning of some types(lead,strychnine etc)
Infections of the brain (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis,
measles)
Febrile convulsions in children
Brain injury at birth
Abnormal brain development
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Remember.
Epilepsy is NOT contagious

Epilepsy is NOT a form of mental

illness
Patients are usually not aware they are
having a seizure and may not remember
what happened
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Remember.
Patients are often unconscious for
sometime after the seizures are over
Even after they become conscious
they may remain confused for a
while
The majority of people who have
epilepsy do not have other
impairments and can lead very
normal lives.
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When someone is having

fits what should I do ?

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FIRST AID FOR SEIZURES

Do or dont?
First aid for
seizures involves
responding in
ways that can
keep the person
safe until the
seizure stops by
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DOs
Keep calm and
reassure other people
who may be nearby.

DONT
Dont Panic

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DO
Clear the surrounding area of
any sharp or hard objects to
avoid injury to patient

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DO

Ease the person to the floor

and put something soft and flat,
like a folded jacket, under his head.

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DO
Remove
eyeglasses and
loosen ties or
anything
around the
neck that may
make breathing
difficult.
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DO
Put them on their side
as soon as possible

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DO

Time the seizure

with your watch.

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DO
Call an
ambulance
If the seizure continues for
longer than five minutes
without signs of slowing
down
If the person remains
unconscious for a long time
If the person has trouble
breathing afterwards,
appears to be injured or in
pain
The recovery is unusual in
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Dr B Shukla
some way,

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DO

ay with the patient

until
they are fully
recovered.
Be friendly &
reassure them

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DO

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Offer to call a
taxi, friend or
relative to help
the person get
home if he seems
confused or
unable to get
home without

Dr B Shukla

27

DONT
Above all,

DONT PANIC !
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DONT

ont try to hold them down in

n effort to stop the seizure

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The seizures
can NOT be
stopped in
this manner.
They will stop
only once the
brain
stops sending
out abnormal
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DONT

t try to force them into consciousness.

ost cases, they will gradually recover
sciousness on their own.

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DONT
Do not try to
force
anything, like
a spoon, in
the persons
mouth. Efforts
to hold the
tongue down
can injure the
teeth or jaw.
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DONT
Do not offer the
person water or
food until fully
alert

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Using presence of
mind with quick
action and care,

We can help to
keep any one
having fits , safe
!
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CAVEAT
This information is for general
awareness only

For any detailed information and

patient management please
contact your doctor

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