Atonic seizure

During an atonic seizure, electrical activity in the brain becomes interrupted; the person has a temporary inability to move or speak and loses muscle strength.[3] The seizure start at one part of the brain or the entire brain.[3] It occurs as a result of a period of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain.[3] It can cause muscle problems, strange behaviors, unusual sensations, and an altered state of awareness.[3]

The symptoms may include:

• Sudden loss of muscle strength
• Going limp and falling to the ground
• Remaining conscious
• Experiencing a brief loss of consciousness
• Head nods
• Drooping eyelids
• Jerking[1]

The duration of atonic seizures are generally short.[4] . People might feel disorganized after the seizure, especially when lose consciousness.[4] If the seizure happened during some activity, people might fall.[4] This could lead to aftereffects like:

• Pain
• Soreness
• Bruises
• Serious injury
• Cuts[4]

The cause of atonic seizures is often unknown.[1] Some patients have seizures because of changes in their genes.[1] Hyperventilation and flickering lights can trigger seizures.[1] There are two types of atonic seizures: focal and generalized.[5] Focal seizures affect a small area of the brain and lead to muscle weakness in one area of the body.[5] Generalized seizures can begin throughout both halves of the brain.[5] The reason disturbing a more important part of the body.[5] When an atonic seizure involves the entire brain it known as generalized onset atonic seizure.[5] These seizures begin with a sudden drop of the head, trunk, or whole body.[5]

Probable causes include:[6]

• Genetic mutations
• Abnormal Brain Development
• Stroke
• Severe brain injury
• Perinatal hypoxia
• Central nervous system infections[6]

There is no general treatment for patients with a seizure disorder. Each treatment plan is specifically tailored to the individual patient based on their diagnosis and symptoms. Treatment options may include medical therapy, nerve stimulation, dietary therapy, or surgery, as appropriate. Clinical trials may also be a valuable treatment alternative. Usually, anticonvulsants are given based on other symptoms and / or associated problems. Because the areas of the cerebellum which determine increases and decreases in muscle tone are close together, people experiencing atonic seizures are most likely experiencing myoclonic ones too, at some point. This may play a role in therapy and diagnostic.[7]

One surgical approach, selective posterior callostomy, can greatly decrease instances of drop attacks and improve function and behavior in patients with intellectual disability.[8]