A convulsion occurs when a person's muscles contract uncontrollably. They can continue for a few seconds or many minutes. Convulsions can happen to a specific part of a person's body or may affect their whole body.

Why do convulsions occur?

Nerve cells (neurons) in the brain create, send and receive electrical impulses, which allow the brain's nerve cells to communicate. Anything that disrupts these communication pathways can lead to a seizure. Some types of seizure disorders may be caused by genetic mutations.

What is convulsions a symptom of?

Convulsions can occur during certain kinds of epileptic seizures, but you can have convulsions even though you don't have epilepsy. Convulsions can be a symptom of a number of conditions, including a sudden fever spike, tetanus, or very low blood sugar.