DODD Ohio Category 1 Medication Administration Certification Practice Exam

Grand mal seizures, also known as tonic-clonic seizures, are characterized by a loss of consciousness and convulsions. During a grand mal seizure, the affected individual will typically experience an intense muscle contraction (tonic phase) followed by rhythmic muscle contractions and relaxations (clonic phase). This results in the person falling and having uncontrollable shaking movements. The loss of consciousness is significant because it indicates that the individual is not aware of their surroundings or actions during this episode, which may last several minutes.

In contrast, the other options describe symptoms associated with different types of seizures or conditions. For example, mild tremors are more indicative of certain movement disorders rather than grand mal seizures. Brief lapses in awareness refer to absence seizures, which do not involve convulsions or loss of consciousness in the same way. Muscle stiffness is also related to other types of seizures or conditions but does not accurately capture the full scope of grand mal seizures, which encompass a combination of muscle rigidity and convulsive activity occurring alongside the loss of consciousness.

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