Grand mal refers to seizures lasting up to five minutes.

Grand mal refers to seizures lasting up to five minutes.

• A. Petit mal
• B. Grand mal
• C. Myoclonic seizure
• D. Tonic seizure

Answer: (B)

Grand mal refers to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which begin with a stiffening (tonic) of the body followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic) and often a postictal period of confusion or sleepiness. These events typically last a few minutes, usually around 1 to 3 minutes and sometimes up to five minutes. This distinguishes it from other seizure types: petit mal (absence) involves brief lapses in consciousness lasting only a few seconds; myoclonic seizures are sudden, brief muscle jerks without the full stiffening-and-shiking pattern; tonic seizures involve sustained stiffening without the clonic jerking. So, the term that fits seizures lasting up to five minutes in the classic sense is grand mal.

Grand mal refers to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which begin with a stiffening (tonic) of the body followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic) and often a postictal period of confusion or sleepiness. These events typically last a few minutes, usually around 1 to 3 minutes and sometimes up to five minutes. This distinguishes it from other seizure types: petit mal (absence) involves brief lapses in consciousness lasting only a few seconds; myoclonic seizures are sudden, brief muscle jerks without the full stiffening-and-shiking pattern; tonic seizures involve sustained stiffening without the clonic jerking. So, the term that fits seizures lasting up to five minutes in the classic sense is grand mal.