Paroxysm (noun)

1. A sudden attack, outburst, or recurrence of a disease.
2. A sudden intense expression of an emotion.

Origin:

Late latin paroxysmus, from greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein to sharpen, from para- + oxunein to sharpen.

Examples:

1. He was suffering from paroxysms of coughing.
2. The patient's seizures were paroxysms of electrical activity in the brain.
3. The paroxysm of anger passed as quickly as it had come.
4. The country was in the grip of a paroxysm of violence.
5. The stock market experienced a paroxysm of volatility.