□ CONVULSION
It is a condition characterized by repetitive contraction and relaxation of a group of muscles in the body and is caused by disturbance in the function of the brain. Convulsions are usually followed by loss of consciousness. Various causes of convulsions are as follows.
1. Disease of the brain.
2. Epilepsy.
3. Head injury.
4. High fever (in children below the age of 3 years).
5. Inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain.
6. Low blood sugar.
The condition is diagnosed by the following features.
1. There is a cry.
2. Then there is stiffness of the body (tonic part of a convulsion), the body becomes cyanotic in that phase.
3. It is followed by repetitive convulsive movements (clonic part of a convulsion). The cyanosis passes away. There is frothing at the angle of the mouth.
4. That is followed by the postictal phase in which the person may become unconscious. He recovers from it after a variable interval. He may lose all memory of this event.
First-aid
1. Keep the patient lying down, making no attempt to stop his fit.
2. Make enough space around him.
3. Place a spoon wrapped in a handkerchief or a folded cloth between his teeth to prevent him from biting his own tongue.
4. Send him to a doctor or hospital immediately after the convulsion.
□ Febrile Convulsions In Young Children
These develop in children below the age of 3 years. The child has high fever due to some cause. The convulsion is as described before.
First-aid
1. Give first aid as for convulsions in an adult.
2. Give tepid sponging.
3. Place him under a fan for cooling his body.
4. Position pillows or soft padding around the child so that even violent movements will not result in injury.
5. Keep the airway open.
6. Send him to a doctor or hospital immediately.
HYSTERIA
It is a psychiatric disorder in which there is attention seeking and is usually found in women. There are manifestations of different diseases when there is actually no organic disease present. It is due to conversion of her anxiety into physical symptoms. They range from something as minor as giddiness to something as serious as blindness or paralysis. However the symptoms are bizarre and do not fit in any particular disorder.
First-aid
1. Do not pay extra attention to her, because that aggravates her symptoms.
2. Be firm but kind in dealing with her.
3. Try to find out the family environment and personal background so the basic problem can be dealt with.
4. Send her to a psychiatrist for treatment.
STROKE (APOPLEXY)
It is a condition characterized by decreased blood supply to the brain due to formation of a blood clot in its arteries, lodging of an embolus in its artery, or rupture of its artery and hemorrhage from it. It usually occurs in elderly persons, especially if they suffer from high blood pressure. The manifestations of a stroke depend on the site and severity of involvement of the brain. The condition is diagnosed by the following features.
1. There is a sudden and severe headache.
2. The person may become unconscious.
3. There is usually paralysis of right or left half of the body.
4. Bladder and/or bowel control may be lost.
5. Speech may be lost.
First aid
1. If he is unconscious, treat him as described before.
2. If there is cardiorespiratory arrest, resuscitate him.
3. Send him to a doctor or hospital immediately.
□ HYPOGLYCEMIA
This is characterized by a drop in blood sugar level below normal and occurs in a person suffering from diabetes mellitus, who takes his medication but does not eat as required. The condition is diagnosed by the following features.
1. The person behaves abnormally.
2. There is excessive sweating, weakness, faintness, and tremors.
3. He may become unconscious.
First aid
1. If the patient is conscious, give him glucose in water orally. If that is not available, give him anything sweet orally.
2. If he is unconscious, keep him in recovery position and give him 20 ml of 25% glucose solution intravenously.
3. Send him to a doctor or hospital immediately.
4. Don’t panic.