Seizures can be compared to an electrical storm in the brain. They can happen anytime, but most commonly occur during the year following surgery and during treatment. Seizure activity may happen just once, occasionally, or regularly, depending on the individual nature of your child’s disease and treatment.

Around 40 types of seizures or seizure disorders have been identified. The three main kinds experienced by children with brain or spinal cord tumors are:

• Absence seizure (also known as petit mal seizure). During an absence seizure, children lose awareness for less than a minute and may blink repeatedly. Adults often think the child is “zoning out” rather than having a seizure.
• Partial seizure. Children lose awareness for longer periods of time, but don’t lose consciousness. They sometimes have strange sensations and make involuntary grunts or noises.
• Tonic clonic seizure (also called grand mal seizure). These seizures include loss of consciousness and visible arm/leg tremors or whole body convulsions.

For more information about local and national support organizations and about seizure management at school and home, contact the Epilepsy Foundation at (800) 332-1000 or see its website at: www.epilepsyfoundation.org.