| Convulsion | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Neurology, Psychiatry |
| Symptoms | Muscle spasms,[1] uncontrollable shaking[1] |
| Risk factors | Epilepsy |
A convulsion is a medical condition where the body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in uncontrolled shaking.[1] Because epileptic seizures typically include convulsions, the term convulsion is often used as a synonym for seizure.[1] However, not all epileptic seizures result in convulsions, and not all convulsions are caused by epileptic seizures.[1][2] Non-epileptic convulsions have no relation with epilepsy, and are caused by non-epileptic seizures.[1]
Convulsions can be caused by epilepsy, infections (including a severe form of listeriosis which is caused by eating food contaminated by Listeria Monocytogenes), brain trauma, or other medical conditions.[2] They can also occur from an electric shock or improperly enriched air for scuba diving.[1][failed verification]
The word fit is sometimes used to mean a convulsion or epileptic seizure.[3]