痙 攣(けいれん)

けいれん

noun

spasm; convulsion; cramp

medicalhealth

1. spasm, cramp, muscle spasm

An involuntary, sudden contraction of muscles, often painful.

足(あし)が痙攣(けいれん)した。

My leg cramped up.

目(め)の周(まわ)りが痙攣(けいれん)している。

The area around my eye is twitching.

泳(およ)いでいる時(とき)に足(あし)が痙攣(けいれん)して動(うご)けなくなった。

My leg cramped while I was swimming and I couldn't move.

2. convulsion, seizure

A more severe form of involuntary muscle contractions, often associated with medical conditions like epilepsy or fever.

高熱(こうねつ)で痙攣(けいれん)を起(お)こした。

They had a convulsion due to high fever.

熱性(ねっせい)痙攣(けいれん) = febrile seizure

子供(こども)が痙攣(けいれん)したらすぐに救急車(きゅうきゅうしゃ)を呼(よ)んでください。

If a child has a convulsion, please call an ambulance immediately.

痙攣(けいれん)発作(ほっさ)が起(お)きたとき、無理(むり)に体(からだ)を押(お)さえないようにする。

When a seizure occurs, do not try to forcibly hold the person down.

Medical term

痙攣(けいれん) covers a range of involuntary muscle contractions from minor cramps to serious convulsions.

Types

筋(きん)痙攣(けいれん): Muscle spasm/cramp
熱性(ねっせい)痙攣(けいれん): Febrile seizure (in children with fever)
てんかん発作(ほっさ): Epileptic seizure

Common locations

足(あし): Leg (most common for exercise-related cramps)
ふくらはぎ: Calf (also called こむら返(がえ)り)
目(め)の周(まわ)り: Around the eye (stress-related twitching)
手(て): Hand

Verb usage

痙攣(けいれん)する: to have a spasm/convulsion
痙攣(けいれん)を起(お)こす: to have a convulsion/seizure

Causes

運動(うんどう): Exercise (muscle cramps)
脱水(だっすい): Dehydration
電解質(でんかいしつ)異常(いじょう): Electrolyte imbalance
疲労(ひろう): Fatigue
高熱(こうねつ): High fever (especially in children)

Medical warning

If convulsions are accompanied by loss of consciousness, last more than a few minutes, or occur repeatedly, seek emergency medical care.

Related Words

Compare: てんかん (epilepsy)

Compare: こむら返(がえ)り (calf cramp)

general

Added 2026.1.17 17:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

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