Types of Epileptic Seizures

Epilepsy is not the same for everybody. There are many different types of epileptic seizures, each with unique symptoms, and each demanding its own treatment plan.

Focal Seizures (Partial Seizures)

Simple partial epileptic seizures

Confined to a small part of the brain
Individuals have normal awareness of their surroundings
May experience the jerk of an arm or hand

Complex partial epileptic seizures

Confined to a larger region of the brain than simple partial seizures
Impaired level awareness about surroundings
Usually involves the temporal lobe
Symptoms:
- Glassy stare and lack of response
- Inappropriate or confused responses to questions
- Sitting, standing, or walking aimlessly
- Lip smacking or chewing motions
- Unusual vocal sounds
- Fidgeting

Partial seizures with secondary generalization are focal seizures that spread to both sides of the brain causing a grand mal convulsion. Except for beginning locally and spreading, partial seizures look the same as the generalized tonic-clonic seizure, described below. Many families describe a complex partial seizure as the patient’s “small seizure” and the convulsions that result from secondary generalization as “big seizures.”

Generalized Epileptic Seizures

Start on both sides of the brain at once
Genetic or hereditary underlying cause
Generalized seizures include:
- Absence seizures
- Tonic-clonic seizures
- Myoclonic seizures
- Atonic seizures (also called drop attacks)

Absence Seizures (Petit Mal Seizures)

Brief, short duration
Staring spells with no motor movements are key feature
Usually shorter than complex partial seizures
May have a look of confusion or of being “out of it”
Normal functioning returns quickly
Most common in children

Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Grand Mal Seizures)

Dramatic convulsions
Characterized by total body stiffening and a cry or vocalization
- Tonic phase
Rhythmic jerking of the body occurs about 30 seconds later
- Clonic phase
Confusion or drowsiness for minutes to hours after

Myoclonic Seizures

Sudden, brief, almost instantaneous jerks of the body or parts of the body
Children with infantile spasms have clusters of myoclonic jerks that tend to occur when they awaken

Atonic Seizures or Drop Attacks

Brief seizures, short duration
Cause an unexpected and rapid fall to the ground
Can result from tonic (stiffening) or atonic (sudden loss of tone) events
Difficult to treat
High risk of injury

Disorders that Mimic Epileptic Seizures

Neurologists must distinguish between spells that are epileptic seizures (and require treatment with anti-epilepsy medication or surgery) and spells from another cause (that require a completely different treatment plan). The possible causes tend to vary with age. In infancy, some other causes of seizure-like spells include: