What causes seizure after donating blood?
Faints following donation can lead to epileptiform convulsions. This is caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. This could lead to a true epileptic fit in a person with a recent history of epilepsy.
Can you have a seizure after donating blood?
We reviewed a total of 329,143 satisfactory blood donations, and 613 individuals reporting a history of seizures donated blood 723 times. Among donors with seizures, 186 (25.7%) were taking antiepileptic medication, and 61 (8.4%) had one or more seizures in the preceding year.
Can donating blood cause syncope?
Syncope occurs in approximately 4-5% of vasovagal reactions [1] and in 0.12-0.27% [1,21,42] of allogeneic whole blood donations. 60-73% of the syncope reactions occur after the donor leaves the bed due to gravity, and 10-12% of the reactions occur after the donor leaves the blood collection site [41,42].
Can donating plasma make you have a seizure?
On extremely rare occasions, a seizure due to a prolonged loss of consciousness may occur, although long-term effects of donating plasma are rare. Citrate reaction may occur if you’re sensitive to the chemical citrate, which is added to the separated blood to prevent clotting.
How long does convulsive syncope last?
It lasts for a few seconds only and is rarely sustained for more than half a minute (34; 49). Most syncopal episodes have less than 10 myoclonic jerks, whereas generalized tonic-clonic seizures have more than 20 (“10 vs. 20 rule”) (49).
What is anoxic seizure?
Anoxic seizures are nonepileptic events consequent upon abrupt interruption of the energy supply to metabolically active cerebral neurones. Anoxic seizures are the most common paroxysmal events misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Neurally mediated syncopes have numerous appellations, especially in the young.
How common is fainting after giving blood?
A total 15 (1.4%) donors fainted after blood donation and they recovered spontaneously within the premises of the blood bank after taking rest.
What do you mean by convulsions?
(kun-VUL-zhun) A condition in which muscles contract and relax quickly and cause uncontrolled shaking of the body. Head injuries, high fevers, some medical disorders, and certain drugs can cause convulsions. They may also occur during seizures caused by epilepsy.
What triggers convulsive syncope?
Sometimes there is no classical vasovagal syncope trigger, but common triggers include: Standing for long periods of time. Heat exposure. Seeing blood. Having blood drawn.
What does convulsive syncope look like?
Convulsive syncope is characterized by small jerking after fainting with spontaneous and complete recovery. This is due to decreased blood flow to the brain resulting in a seizure-like reaction. It is estimated to occur in 12% of patients presenting with syncope.
What does an anoxic seizure look like?
Video recordings of other forms of anoxic seizures (vasovagal syncopes) suggest that there may be marked asymmetry (16). Parents may report the eyes to have rolled or to be “popping out of the head.” A few clonic jerks of the limbs or spasms are often noted. Urinary incontinence is not uncommon (32).
What is the difference between passing out and fainting?
Fainting, also called passing out or syncope, is a temporary loss of consciousness. It’s caused by a sudden decrease of blood flow to the brain. An episode typically lasts a few seconds or minutes. Most fainting spells are not a cause for concern.