What to do if someone has a Reflex Anoxic Seizures?

Reflex anoxic seizures can usually be managed just with reassurance. Drug treatment is usually not needed. Parents should be advised to place the child in the recovery position. Pacemaker insertion is the only definitive treatment and is only used for frequent, severe cases [3, 4].

What does a reflex anoxic seizure look like?

Any unexpected stimulus, such as pain, shock, fright, causes the heart and breathing to stop, the eyes to roll up into the head, the complexion to become deathly white, often blue around the mouth and under the eyes, the jaw to clench and the body to stiffen; sometimes the arms and legs jerk.

What happens with Reflex Anoxic Seizures?

RAS is a particular type of convulsive syncope (transient loss of consciousness) with stiffening and or shaking. It is neither epileptic (see entry Epilepsy), nor due to deliberate breath-holding. It is a type of severe syncope or ‘faint’, caused by a temporary loss of the supply of blood carrying oxygen to the brain.

Can you grow out of Reflex Anoxic Seizures?

In the pre-school years, some children may have several reflex anoxic seizures a month, but most will grow out of them by the time they start school. Some children will continue to occasionally have them into adult life. Reflex anoxic seizures are involuntary, aren’t dangerous and don’t cause brain damage or death.

What is an anoxic episode?

Anoxia happens when your body or brain completely loses its oxygen supply. Anoxia is usually a result of hypoxia. This means that a part of your body doesn’t have enough oxygen. When your body is harmed by a lack of oxygen, it’s called a hypoxic-anoxic injury.

What’s an anoxic seizure?

Anoxic seizures are nonepileptic events consequent upon abrupt interruption of the energy supply to metabolically active cerebral neurones. Anoxic seizures are the most common paroxysmal events misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Neurally mediated syncopes have numerous appellations, especially in the young.

What are the symptoms of anoxia?

Signs and symptoms of anoxia

  • mood and personality changes.
  • memory loss.
  • slurred speech or forgotten words.
  • changes in judgment.
  • trouble walking or moving your arms or legs normally.
  • weakness.
  • feeling dizzy or disoriented.
  • unusual headaches.

Can anoxia cause seizures?

Severe hypoxic/anoxic brain injury There may be brief jerks of the limbs (myoclonus) and seizures, both resulting from the damaging effects of lack of oxygen on the brain. If the anoxia is severe, it will result in loss of consciousness and coma.

How common is reflex anoxic seizures?

Key points. Reflex anoxic seizure occurs in up to 0.8% of children and are a non-epileptic events. This can often be misdiagnosed as an epileptic fit.