Convulsion
Origin
Latin convulsiōn-em, n. of action < convellĕre (see convulse n.), or perhaps im med. < French convulsion (16th cent.). The medical sense was already used in Latin by Pliny and the medical writers.
Definitions
- 1: an abnormal violent and involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the muscles
- 2a : a violent disturbance
Description
A convulsion is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptic seizure, the term convulsion is sometimes used as a synonym for seizure. However, not all epileptic seizures lead to convulsions, and not all convulsions are caused by epileptic seizures. Convulsions are also consistent with an electric shock. For non-epileptic convulsions, see non-epileptic seizures. Convulsions may also be referred to as "fits" in some instances.
