During the tonic phase of a seizure, what occurs?

• A. Brief aura before seizure
• B. Temporary confusion after seizure
• C. Body becomes rigid; bladder and bowel control may be lost
• D. Body jerks violently

Answer: (C)

During the tonic phase, the body's muscles contract and stiffen, causing a sustained, rigid posture of the trunk and limbs. This rigidity often leads to loss of consciousness and can briefly affect breathing. Loss of bladder or bowel control can occur due to the intense, involuntary muscle activity. This phase is followed by the clonic phase, which features rhythmic jerking, and then the postictal period, during which confusion and fatigue are common. An aura is a warning sensation some people feel before seizures begin, not during the tonic stiffening; the temporary confusion described occurs after the seizure ends, and the violent jerking is characteristic of the clonic phase rather than the tonic phase.