The Two Main Types Of Seizures

Seizures indicate that an individual or an animal is having a brain problem. This condition takes place when the brain has a rapid, unusual electrical activity. Contrary to what most of us know, seizures don’t always result in convulsions. They come in many types and some display very mild symptoms. Seizures are classified into two main categories – partial seizures and generalized seizures.


Partial Seizures
In this kind of seizure, the electrical disturbance takes place only in a specific part or one side of the brain. It is further categorized into simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. In the former type of partial seizure, the person is still conscious while in the latter type, patient’s consciousness is either lost or impaired.

Such seizures may intensify and may lead to a generalized seizure. These are the most common kind of seizure that individuals having epilepsy experience. During partial seizure attacks, a person may display almost any movement, as well as sensory and emotional symptoms. Convoluted auditory and visual hallucinations can also be experienced.

Generalized Seizures
This type of seizure affects both sides of the brain, right from the moment when the seizure begins. Generalized seizures can cause impaired or loss of consciousness, either temporarily or for a longer period. These are subdivided into major types such as:

• Absence seizures – this kind of seizure causes lapses in the person’s consciousness that suddenly begin and don’t last long. While they occur without a warning, such seizures don’t have after-effects. Absence seizures are commonly observed in children that are 4 to 12 years old.

• Tonic clonic seizures – among the types of generalized seizures, these are the best known and are the most common. Also known as grand mal seizures, they start with tonic phase, which is characterized by stiffening of the limbs, then proceed to the clonic phase wherein jerking of the face and the limbs is experienced.

• Myoclonic seizures – these are sudden, brief muscle contractions which simultaneously take place on both sides of the body. There are times when such seizures affect only a foot or one arm. Most of the time you won’t recognize these not as seizures but as rapid clumsiness or jerks.

• Atonic seizures – also called drop attacks, akinetic, or astatic seizures, such condition causes impulsive loss of the person’s muscle tone. Atonic seizures are characterized by loss of posture, head drops, and immediate collapse. Since they happen so fast and without a warning, the one experiencing such seizures may fall with force, resulting in face and head injuries.

A person may also experience provoked or single seizure which happens when there are some conditions that upset the brain or deprive it with fuel or oxygen. Among the factors that cause this non-epileptic seizure are certain drugs, injuries, sleep deprivation, fever, infections, low oxygen and sugar level in the blood, and abnormal heart rhythms. Seizures are also occasionally caused by video games, recurring sounds, flashing lights, and even by touching some body parts. The disorder caused by these factors is named reflex epilepsy.