May also be called: Febrile Seizures; Absence Seizures; Tonic-Clonic Seizures; Petit Mal Seizures; Grand Mal Seizures More to Know "Seizure" is a general term that refers to sudden abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that can cause someone to collapse, convulse, or have another temporary disturbance of normal brain function, often with a loss or change in consciousness. A person who has had two or more seizures may be diagnosed with epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder. Seizures can have many different causes, and learning the specific cause of a seizure is critical to its treatmeant. Keep in Mind Seizures can be frightening, but most last only a few minutes, stop on their own, and are not life-threatening. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Seizures Seizures are caused by a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. Find out what you need to know about seizures and what to do if your child has one. Read More First Aid: Seizures Although seizures can be frightening, usually they last only a few minutes, stop on their own, and are almost never life-threatening. Read More Epilepsy Epilepsy causes electrical signals in the brain to misfire, which can lead to multiple seizures. Anyone can get epilepsy at any age, but most new diagnoses are in kids. Read More Febrile Seizures Febrile seizures are full-body convulsions caused by high fevers that affect young kids. Although they can be frightening, they usually stop on their own and don't cause any other health problems. Read More First Aid: Febrile Seizures Febrile seizures are convulsions that happen in some children with fevers. They usually stop on their own after a few minutes and don't cause any other health problems. Read More A to Z: Seizure, Absence An absence seizure (also called a petit mal seizure) is type of epileptic seizure that causes a person to briefly lose consciousness and stare ahead without moving, appearing "absent." Read More A to Z: Seizure, Tonic-Clonic A tonic-clonic seizure (also called a grand mal seizure) is a sudden attack that brings on intense muscle spasms and loss of consciousness. It is caused by abnormal brain activity and affects the entire body. Read More Breath-Holding Spells Kids who have these spells hold their breath until they pass out. Although upsetting to watch, the spells are not harmful and do not pose any serious, long-term health risks. Read More First Aid: Fainting Fainting is a loss of consciousness that can be caused by many things. Here's what to do if your child faints or is about to faint. Read More Epilepsy Seizures are a common symptom of epilepsy, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Learn all about epilepsy, including what to do if you see someone having a seizure. Read More Epilepsy It comes from a Greek word meaning "to hold or seize," and seizures are what happen to people with epilepsy. Learn more about epilepsy in this article written just for kids. Read More Word! Seizure You might hear a seizure called a convulsion, fit, or spell. Read More Fainting Fainting is pretty common in teens. The good news is that most of the time it's not a sign of something serious. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.