What Causes Sudden Jerk Like Spasms In The Body In A Child?

Posted on Fri, 3 Feb 2017

Question: MY GRANDSON, DURING HIS SLEEP STARTS JERKING AND SITTING UP ON HIS NEEDS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH CONSTANTLY. THAN HE HIS LEGS AND ARMS START CONTRACTING AND JERKING AGAIN AND AGAIN...I COMFORTED HIM SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, I HAVE NOTICE HIM DOING THIS. HOWEVER, THIS LAST TIME IT WAS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME..

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER YET ON MY E-MAIL... HOW LONG DOES
AN ANSWER TAKE TO BE PROCESSED?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please take him to a doctor for evaluation and to rule out seizure.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from Healthcaremagic.com

Please excuse me for late reply. Sudden onset jerking of body along with involuntary contractions of arms and limbs (most likely tonic clonic movements) should be evaluated urgently. He is just 4 and this could be occurring due to some seizure possibly generalised tonic clonic seizure. Though to make proper diagnosis detailed evaluation and examination is needed. The episodes occurred in sleep which also strengthens the diagnosis.

If he is febrile or has history of fever in last 2-3 days then give him Paracetamol to control fever. A lot of children in fever develops febrile convulsions.

Hypocalcemia could be another possibility. Low calcium levels in children are most common cause of jerking in children.

Please take him to a doctor and get him evaluated. EEG should be done to confirm diagnosis.

Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T