What Seizures Look Like

One kind of seizure can make a child stop what he's doing and stare for a few seconds. Another kind can make him or her fall suddenly to the ground.

A seizure may make an arm or leg shake for a minute or two, or make the whole body jerk. Or it can make the child feel afraid or angry or make things look differently from what they really are.

A seizure can make a child seem confused and dazed, as if half asleep and not in touch with what's going on around her.

Another kind could make a child have a convulsion, the kind of seizure that most people think of when they hear the word "epilepsy." This type of seizure makes a child cry out, black out, fall, get stiff and then shake for a minute or two.

Both different and alike

Seizures look so different because they affect different parts of the brain. But they are alike in several ways, too.

They usually don't last long.

In most cases you don't have to do anything to stop them. They stop on their own. They're unlikely to be medical emergencies.

Most don't require any first aid - just watchful waiting till the seizure stops.And when first aid is needed, it's mostly to keep the child safe until the seizure is over.

Good news

Most kids with epilepsy today don't have seizures very often.

In fact, it's quite likely that a child with seizures will never have one while the babysitter is looking after him.

That's because children with epilepsy take medicine to prevent seizures. Or, they may be on a special diet or have an implanted device that makes seizures less likely.