Types of seizures and their categories

There are more than 30 different types of seizures. Seizures are divided in two categories: focal or generalized seizures. Each category includes several types of seizures.

Category: Focal seizures

• Another name for focal seizures is partial seizures as it affects only a certain part of the brain.

• Approximately 60% of people affected by Epilepsy are part of this category.

• After identifying the area of the brain that is affected by these seizures, the name of the area will be part of the diagnosis. For example, if the patient Temporal lobe is affected, the name of the diagnostic will be the focal temporal lobe seizures.

• When someone is suffering from a simple focal seizure, the person will remain in a state of consciousness but will experience some odd feelings and sensations. The person may suddenly experience confusing and sudden emotions such as anger, joy or sadness. The patient may also feel nauseated and his senses might provide some stimuli that are not real. For example, the person might smell, feel textures, taste, see or hear things that are not part of the reality.

• When someone is suffering from a complex focal seizure, the person's state or consciousness is affected, the patient might even be unconscious. The patient might feel like in a dream. This person might display some strange repetitive behaviors such as twitching, blinking, walking in circles or make some specific movements with his/her mouth. These movements are called automatisms. Some more complex actions might also seem like they have a purpose or they may be done involuntarily. This type of seizure last usually a few seconds and the person may even continue the task at hand.

• Amongst people suffering from focal seizures, especially the complex focal seizures, some might experience some auras which are odd sensations that are warning the patient of the upcoming seizure. In fact, these auras are actual simple focal seizures that are experience during consciousness. Usually, the auras are similar every time.

• The symptoms of focal seizures may be confused with other medical conditions which also cause a dreamlike sensation for the patient. These conditions are: migraine headaches, narcolepsy, mental illness or fainting spells. For this reason, a person should require the care of a specialist and may also need some testing before identifying the medical problem as being Epilepsy or another disorder.

Category: Generalized seizures

• Generalized seizures are the result of some abnormal neuron activity on both sides of the brain which may cause falls, big muscles spasms or a loss of consciousness.

• Generalized seizures include several types of seizures.

• Absence seizures affect the patient with the following symptoms or behaviors: twitching, staring into space and jerking. This type is also referred to as the petit mal seizures which is the older term for them.

• Tonic seizures display the stiffening of muscles, especially the ones of the arms, the legs and the upper body.

• Clonic seizures display repetitive movements or both sides of the body.

• Myoclonic seizures display jerking and twitching muscles of the arms, the legs and the upper body.

• Atonic seizures are responsible for a loss of normal muscle tone. The person may fall and he/she might drop his/her head involuntarily.

• Tonic-clonic seizures display a mix of symptoms such as: stiffening of the body, repetitive jerking of the legs and/or legs as well as a loss of consciousness. Tonic-clonic seizures are also referred to as the grand mal seizures which is the older term for them.

• It is not always easy to define the category of the seizures of the patient: focal or generalized. Some people start with focal seizures which then become generalized seizures. Others may have both types but without a regular pattern.

• Even these days, a lot of people misunderstand Epilepsy, especially when there are no convulsions present. Sometimes, witnesses thought that the patient had them on purpose or even faked them. Some of them also have been arrested or admitted wrongfully in psychiatric hospitals. Because of this lack of knowledge and understanding, it is important that people seek some information about Epilepsy.