What Causes Death From Seizures?

Seizures are most often thought to be a manifestation of epilepsy; however, other medical conditions such as an extremely high fever can cause an individual to experience convulsions. Seizures generally include muscle jerking and twitching along with unconsciousness. Seizures can be mild or very serious. In rare circumstances, seizures can cause death.

Oxygen Deprivation

• Sometimes during a seizure an individual may stop breathing. This prolonged lack of oxygen may prove to be fatal.

Choking

• An individual who has a seizure while eating or who vomits during the seizure may choke to death.

Head Injury

• An individual having a seizure may fall when a seizure begins and could possibly hit his head on a countertop, floor, or other hard surface. Such an injury could lead to death.

Drowning

• If an individual has a seizure while taking a bath or swimming, drowning may occur.

Automobile Accident

• An individual who has a seizure while driving may get into a fatal car accident.

Unexplained Seizure Death

• According to the NLM, sometimes individuals with seizures die for unexplained reasons.