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There are more than 30 specific types of epileptic
seizures that fall into two general categories–partial
and generalized. In partial seizures, the abnormal electrical
discharge is limited to one area of the brain. Many
parts of the brain are involved in generalized seizures.
Not all seizures are the result of epilepsy; when caused
by other medical conditions, they are known as non-epileptic
events.
Partial Seizures:
Complex partial seizures
(psychomotor or temporal lobe epilepsy) affect
consciousness and originate from the temporal lobes
of the brain. These seizures are characterized by automatisms,
which are involuntary, repetitive behaviors such as
head turning and random movement that is not remembered
by the person after the seizure is over. The person
may appear dazed during the seizure and be unresponsive
to others.
Simple partial seizures
generally do not affect consciousness and are the most
common type of epilepsy. They may cause sudden, jerking
motions of the body and affect vision or hearing.
Generalized Seizures:
Absence seizures (petit
mal) typically occur in childhood and are
distinguishable by short periods ( 5-15 seconds) of
staring, blinking, rolling of the eyes, or arm movements.
These brief lapses of consciousness are followed by
a return to full awareness.
Tonic-clonic seizures (grand
mal) are characterized by a stiffening of
the body and jerking body movements. A person sometimes
loses consciousness during a tonic-clonic seizure and
may also have shallow breathing and a loss of bowel/bladder
control.
Non-Epileptic Events:
Not every seizure is an epileptic seizure. An example
is Psychogenic seizures.
Psychogenic seizures can look much like a true epileptic
event, but no abnormal electrical activity occurs. These
seizures are psychological in nature and can happen
in people diagnosed with epilepsy and as well as those
who are not.
There are some medical conditions that have symptoms
similar to epileptic seizures, such as narcolepsy, heat
stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, pre-eclampsia in pregnant
women, and low blood sugar. Diagnostic tests such as
continuous video EEG monitoring can help distinguish
between epileptic seizures and non-epileptic events.
Triggers and Auras
Not all epileptic seizures occur out of the blue. After
a while, some patients become aware of certain factors
that seem to bring on or "trigger" a seizure.
Among the most common triggers are: lack of sleep; flashing
lights; alcohol; smoking; the hormonal changes brought
on by the menstrual cycle; and stress.
Some people experience an unusual physical sensation
before the onset of a seizure. This aura, which varies
by individual, can be a strange taste or odor, a tense
feeling, or even a sound.
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About
Epilepsy
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