By: Priyal Sakhuja

Waiting for an interview or a big test, starting a new school, or moving to a new place often give us the jitters. We begin to feel uneasy and fidgety, or have small, jumpy movements. So why are the jitters our new suspect? What makes them something we should learn to look out for?

Clonic seizures are characterized by rhythmic jerking movements of the arms and legs, which could occur on both sides of the body. “Clonus” means alternating contraction and relaxation of a muscle, or more simply put, jerking movements. Repositioning of the arms or legs does not assist with controlling these movements (“Clonic Seizure”).

Clonic seizures are quite rare, but do occur at various ages, and can even affect newborns. If brief and infrequent clonic seizures are seen in infants, they typically disappear on their own within a short period of time. Occasional “jitteriness” in an infant can sometimes be mistaken for a clonic seizure, but a jittery infant tends to be more alert than one who is having a clonic seizure (“Clonic Seizure”). These clonic seizures are tricky suspects that are rare and rapid, but if kept an eye out for, could be detected and treated in a timely manner.

Sources:

1.https://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_clonic.