What are the different types of partial seizures?
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Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:Focal seizures (or partial seizures) take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas on one side of the brain. Two types of focal seizures include the following:
- Simple partial seizures: The seizures typically last less than one minute. The person may show different symptoms depending upon which area of the brain is involved. If the abnormal electrical brain function is in the occipital lobe (the back part of the brain that is involved with vision), sight may be altered. If the abnormal brain function is in the frontal lobe (the front part of the brain that is involved with muscle or motor movement), the person's muscles are typically affected. The seizure activity is limited to an isolated muscle group, such as the fingers, or to larger muscles in the arms and legs. Consciousness is not lost in this type of seizure. The person may also experience sweating or nausea, or become pale.
- Complex partial seizures: This type of seizure commonly occurs in the temporal lobe of the brain, the area of the brain that controls emotion and memory function. This seizure usually lasts between one to two minutes. Consciousness is usually lost during these seizures, and a variety of behaviors can occur. These behaviors may include gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, and/or laughing. When the person regains consciousness, he/she may complain of being tired or sleepy after the seizure. This is called the postictal period.
Focal seizures (or partial seizures) take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas on one side of the brain. Two types of focal seizures include the following: Simple partial seizures: The seizures typically... More -
Healthwise answered:An epileptic seizure is the body and brain's response to sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A partial seizure is an epileptic seizure that begins in a distinct part of the brain. There are three types of partial seizures:- Simple partial seizures briefly disrupt a person's speech, movement, vision or sense of smell or taste, but do not affect a person's level of consciousness.
- Complex partial seizures alter a person's level of consciousness and make the person stare into space. The person may notice a strange smell, taste or feeling (aura) at the beginning of a seizure.
- Partial seizures with secondary generalization begin like simple and complex partial seizures but then spread (generalize) to the rest of the brain, leading to the more familiar type of epileptic seizures (tonic-clonic seizures) in which the person's muscles stiffen and jerk. Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure in adults. They can often be controlled with medication or surgery.
An epileptic seizure is the body and brain's response to sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A partial seizure is an epileptic seizure that begins in a distinct part of the brain. There are three types of partial seizures:... More
