Sometimes the terms “convulsion” and “seizure” are used as if they mean the same thing, but they refer to different aspects of epilepsy. A lot of people are confused about this.

“On my discharge notes from the emergency department, I had the diagnosis of convulsions,” a MyEpilepsyTeam member said. “I really don’t know what that diagnosis means. I do know seizures. Could someone explain?”

If you or your child are living with epilepsy, knowing the differences between a convulsion and a seizure can help you understand your condition better and communicate more effectively with your healthcare team.

Here’s more about convulsions and seizures, which you can discuss further with your doctor.

Which Seizures Cause Convulsions?

Nonmotor seizures affect awareness, emotion, or the senses — such as sight, smell, and taste. Symptoms include emotional changes, visual hallucinations, unusual thoughts, and changes in speech or movement. The unusual sensations and thoughts that can occur with a seizure are known as an aura.

A nonmotor seizure doesn’t cause convulsions and may not look like a seizure from the outside. One kind of nonmotor seizure is an absence seizure, which is characterized by someone staring blankly into space.

“Those that know about my condition think if I don’t have a convulsion I am OK, where that is far off from the truth. The auras, although they do not cause a convulsion, torment me all day long,” a MyEpilepsyTeam member wrote.

“I don’t convulse when I have seizures either. My diagnosis is complex partial,” another team member said.

Focal impaired awareness seizures (formerly called complex partial seizures) are a common type of epileptic seizure in adults. They can include symptoms such as staring into space, laughing, and screaming. They can also cause minor motor symptoms such as small movements in the hands, fluttering eyelids, and lip smacking.

Motor seizures affect the muscles and cause abnormal physical movement. This type of seizure causes symptoms such as stiffening, jerking movements, twitching, going limp and falling, or convulsions.

“Already had two staring spells and a convulsion,” a MyEpilepsyTeam member said.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Convulsions in epilepsy are most commonly associated with tonic-clonic seizures.

Tonic-clonic seizures are a type of generalized seizure, meaning they affect both sides of the brain. In a tonic-clonic seizure, the body stiffens (the tonic phase), then convulsions start (the clonic phase) with rhythmic shaking of the body.

Tonic-clonic seizures typically cause loss of consciousness.

A tonic-clonic seizure can also be a focal onset seizure that starts on one side of the brain and spreads to the other side. This was known as a secondarily generalized seizure but is now called a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure.

Febrile Seizures

A febrile seizure causes convulsions in children. Febrile convulsions are caused by fever, typically due to an infection.

A febrile seizure in a child can be alarming. However, febrile seizures don’t usually have lasting effects, and most children who have a simple febrile seizure never develop epilepsy.

Children who’ve had a febrile seizure generally have the same risk of developing epilepsy as healthy children. Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing epilepsy, for example if the child has underlying neurological conditions or if febrile seizures last longer than 15 minutes.

“When I was younger, I started off with febrile convulsions. Then eventually as a teenager I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I now have a 2-year-old daughter who approximately one year ago suffered a febrile convulsion. So when she is ill, I panic,” a MyEpilepsyTeam member wrote.

It’s important to contact your doctor if your child experiences a febrile seizure.

How Do Epileptic Seizures and Convulsions Feel?

A tonic-clonic seizure has certain identifiable patterns:

• Muscles throughout the body will become stiff.
• Air will be forced out of the diaphragm and the person may groan.
• They will lose consciousness and fall.
• The body will shake quickly and rhythmically.
• Some people bite their tongues or cheeks.
• After about one to three minutes, the body will relax and the person will gradually become conscious.

People can be confused, tired, or in a bad mood after experiencing convulsions.

“If I have a grand mal seizure, after my convulsion I usually go to sleep for hours,” said a MyEpilepsyTeam member.

MyEpilepsyTeam Members Discuss Their Experiences

Individual experiences with seizures and convulsions can vary considerably. Here’s what some MyEpilepsyTeam members have shared about their seizures and convulsions.

“It was storming early this morning, and I woke up from a deep sleep with a weird feeling. Kind of like when you have a big convulsion,” a MyEpilepsyTeam member wrote. “I thought it was weird but didn’t think too much about it, and then I noticed I’d bitten my cheek.”

Another member described having a convulsion in their sleep. “Last Labor Day, early in the morning, my husband was awakened seeing me having a convulsion. We strongly suspect that one of the pharmacies gave us generic anti-seizure medicine, which I am allergic to.”

Someone else said, “Just had a seizure right now in front of my boyfriend and younger siblings. I was close to having a convulsion, but thank goodness I didn’t have one! I’m just lying down right now. I’m going to try to take a nap!”

Epilepsy Can Take Many Forms

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that’s sometimes called a seizure disorder. The condition varies significantly among individuals. Different types of seizures can have different levels of severity.

It’s important to talk to your doctor if you or your child have questions about the type of seizures you’re seeing. They can explain your condition and provide you with a treatment plan, such as anti-seizure medications.

Join the Conversation

On MyEpilepsyTeam, people share their experiences with epilepsy, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you experienced a convulsion with an epileptic seizure? Let others know in the comments below.