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| FITS OR CONVULSION |
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A child may develop fits or convulsions for various reasons. The commonest causes are :
a. |
Febrile convulsions : When the temperature suddenly increases
in a viral infection, the child goes into a fit. This fit occurs whenever there is rise in
temperature. |
b. |
Epileptic convulsions : These are recurrent fits that the
child gets irrespective of rise in temperature. |
c. |
Fits due to any head injury or infections in the brain. |
d. |
Hysterical fits. |
When a child gets a fit, he may become suddenly unconscious,
there is rolling of the eyes upwards the body goes rigid and soon after there is jerking
of his upper and lower limbs. The jerking and unconsciousness may continue for several
minutes. The child the recovers slowly, looks confused and drowsy and may go off to sleep.
Management of an attack of fits
a. |
The mother should remain calm, during an attack of the
child's fit. |
b. |
Make the child lie down, face turned on one side to avoid
aspiration. |
c. |
Put in a mouth gap or a spoon in the mouth if there is
clenching of the teeth. This mouth gap helps in preventing of the biting of the tongue. |
d. |
If fever is there, then tepid sponging will help to bring the
fever down. |
Preventive steps
a. |
If convulsions are due to fever, then it is advisable to give
a fever reducing medicine as soon as the temperature seems to rise. |
b. |
In a suspected epileptic convulsion, detailed investigations
like E.E.G or C.T scan is advised and an opinion of a neuro-physician is definitely
advised. |
c. |
In the case of convulsions due to head injuries or infections
of the brain, there will be other symptoms also besides convulsion. In such cases,
hospitalisation is very necessary. |
d. |
In a history of convulsions, the following activities are
prohibited like swimming, cycling, going alone anywhere. |
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