US Medical Term · symptoms
Seizure
Convulsión
Also: Ataque epiléptico (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Seizure |
| Spanish (Español) | Convulsión |
| Chinese (中文) | 癲癇發作 |
| Korean (한국어) | 발작 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Co giật |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Atake / Seizure |
| Portuguese (Português) | Convulsão |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชัก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 発作 |
What it means
A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that may cause uncontrolled shaking, stiffening, confusion, loss of consciousness, or staring spells. Causes include epilepsy, high fever, low blood sugar, stroke, head injury, and drug withdrawal. Call 911 immediately for a first-time seizure, a seizure lasting more than five minutes, a person who does not wake up afterward, injury during a seizure, or seizures in a pregnant person or someone with diabetes. Do not restrain the person or put anything in their mouth. Cushion their head and stay with them until help arrives.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My family member had a seizure and was shaking uncontrollably for about two minutes.
Un familiar tuvo una convulsión y estuvo temblando sin control durante unos dos minutos.
I have epilepsy and I had a seizure this morning before coming here.
Tengo epilepsia y tuve una convulsión esta mañana antes de venir aquí.
After the seizure I was confused and did not remember what happened.
Después de la convulsión estaba confundido y no recordaba lo que pasó.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R56 Convulsions, not elsewhere classifiedRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026