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What Are The Different Types Of Seizures?

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Posted on Thu, 31 Aug 2017
Question: what are other types of seizures that epilepsy is there
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Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Types of Seizures

Detailed Answer:
Epilepsy can be thought of in several different ways according to the type of brain dysfunction an episode causes as well as the type of movements that it causes limbs to make and whether or not a person's awareness or conscious levels are either interrupted or entirely subdued.

At any rate, you asked for the types of epilepsy and so here are some of the most common types. There are actually many other types but they are less common and only are seen in isolated cases.

FOCAL SEIZURES- Seizures which begin in one part of the brain/body. They may or may not be accompanied by changes in awareness of the patient. They may manifest as pure motor movements or NON-MOTOR behaviors which would include sensory seizures described as feelings of numbness/tingling, other odd sensations that cover or envelop an entire limb.....staying on 1 side of the body.

GENERALIZED- These will include the entire brain/body and can also be of a MOTOR or NON-MOTOR nature. The one that most people are familiar with used to be called GRAND MAL and involved all limbs jerking in rhythm and rather forcefully. In these seizures since such a large area of the brain is involved and both hemispheres are abnormally firing the patient is unconscious and may do things such as bit their tongue, lose bowel or bladder control, stop breathing, snore or breathe in various irregular patterns.

UNKNOWN- In these seizures it is not known what the location or extent of onset may be initially but they are typically noted as TONIC-CLONIC (limb jerking in rhythm) or when parts of the body or groups of muscles may go into unrelenting SPASMS. In these types of seizures there can also be a pure BEHAVIORAL COMPONENT where the person suddenly and quite uncontrollably experiences a change in their demeanor and interactivity with their environment. They can either laugh hysterically, become extremely recluse, or boistrously babbling and rather accelerated.

FOCAL TO BILATERAL- This is where the seizure begins on one side then, involves both sides of both the brain and body. Previously, it was referred to as a focal with secondary generalization type of event.

If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.

Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.

This query has utilized a total of 60 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2473 Questions

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What Are The Different Types Of Seizures?

Brief Answer: Types of Seizures Detailed Answer: Epilepsy can be thought of in several different ways according to the type of brain dysfunction an episode causes as well as the type of movements that it causes limbs to make and whether or not a person's awareness or conscious levels are either interrupted or entirely subdued. At any rate, you asked for the types of epilepsy and so here are some of the most common types. There are actually many other types but they are less common and only are seen in isolated cases. FOCAL SEIZURES- Seizures which begin in one part of the brain/body. They may or may not be accompanied by changes in awareness of the patient. They may manifest as pure motor movements or NON-MOTOR behaviors which would include sensory seizures described as feelings of numbness/tingling, other odd sensations that cover or envelop an entire limb.....staying on 1 side of the body. GENERALIZED- These will include the entire brain/body and can also be of a MOTOR or NON-MOTOR nature. The one that most people are familiar with used to be called GRAND MAL and involved all limbs jerking in rhythm and rather forcefully. In these seizures since such a large area of the brain is involved and both hemispheres are abnormally firing the patient is unconscious and may do things such as bit their tongue, lose bowel or bladder control, stop breathing, snore or breathe in various irregular patterns. UNKNOWN- In these seizures it is not known what the location or extent of onset may be initially but they are typically noted as TONIC-CLONIC (limb jerking in rhythm) or when parts of the body or groups of muscles may go into unrelenting SPASMS. In these types of seizures there can also be a pure BEHAVIORAL COMPONENT where the person suddenly and quite uncontrollably experiences a change in their demeanor and interactivity with their environment. They can either laugh hysterically, become extremely recluse, or boistrously babbling and rather accelerated. FOCAL TO BILATERAL- This is where the seizure begins on one side then, involves both sides of both the brain and body. Previously, it was referred to as a focal with secondary generalization type of event. If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out. Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others. This query has utilized a total of 60 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.