Are Convulsions and Seizures the Same?

A convulsion is a type of seizure. Seizures involve bursts of electrical activity in the brain. There are many different types of seizures, and the symptoms of a seizure depend on where in the brain the seizure is happening.

What can cause convulsions?

  • A convulsion may be associated with any number of medical conditions, including epilepsy, a head injury, severe fever, an inflammatory brain infection, exposure to toxins, and certain medications. ...
  • Epileptic seizures are characterized by electrical disturbances in the brain.

What is a convulsion seizure?

Convulsive seizures (also called generalized tonic-clonic seizures) involve the whole body. These seizures used to be called "grand mal" seizures. They are the most dramatic type of seizure, causing rapid, rhythmic and sometimes violent shaking movements, often with loss of consciousness.

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.