What should you know about hyperkinetic seizure?

Movements may include thrashing, kicking, pedalling, or repeated body motions. Awareness can be difficult to judge during the event, and the person may not remember it afterwards. A seizure can have different causes, including changes in brain activity, low blood glucose, alcohol withdrawal, infection, or another medical problem. The movement pattern alone cannot identify the cause.

Do not restrain the person, put anything in their mouth, or assume that unusual movement is deliberate. A clinician may need a description or video recorded safely from a distance, along with details about what happened before and after.

Move sharp or hard objects away, cushion the head, loosen tight clothing around the neck, and time the event. When the movements stop, place the person on their side if they are breathing normally and stay with them until they are alert. Do not give food, drink, or tablets until they can swallow safely.

Record the start and end time, breathing changes, colour change, injury, repeated episodes, and recovery. Arrange medical review after a first seizure or any event that differs from the person’s usual pattern.

Call emergency services if the seizure continues, repeats without recovery, causes a serious injury, affects breathing, happens in water, occurs during pregnancy, or is a first known seizure. Urgent assessment is also needed with fever, severe headache, stiff neck, marked confusion, or suspected low blood glucose.

Ask what features suggest a seizure, whether testing is needed, how to respond if it happens again, and whether prescribed rescue medicine is appropriate. Ask when the person can safely drive, work at heights, swim, or bathe alone.