Paroxysm

Paroxysm

• a sudden outburst of a violent emotion or action (laughter, rage)
• a seizure, spasm, cramp, sudden attack of pain
• an increase of symptoms or periodic attacks of a disease (such as malaria, asthma, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, tachycardia, whooping cough, and epilepsy.)
• In geology a volcanic eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 5 (on a scale of 0-8) is called 'paroxysmal.'

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For medical meanings see also paroxysmal attacks.