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Epilepsy

The document discusses epilepsy and provides information on its symptoms. It defines epilepsy and notes that seizures can produce temporary confusion, staring spells, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of consciousness, or psychic symptoms. Seizures are classified as either focal or generalized based on where abnormal brain activity begins. Focal seizures may alter emotions or senses and cause involuntary movement, while generalized seizures involve all areas of the brain and include absence, tonic, clonic, myoclonic, atonic, and tonic-clonic seizures.

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Brandi Lynch
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63 views3 pages

Epilepsy

The document discusses epilepsy and provides information on its symptoms. It defines epilepsy and notes that seizures can produce temporary confusion, staring spells, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of consciousness, or psychic symptoms. Seizures are classified as either focal or generalized based on where abnormal brain activity begins. Focal seizures may alter emotions or senses and cause involuntary movement, while generalized seizures involve all areas of the brain and include absence, tonic, clonic, myoclonic, atonic, and tonic-clonic seizures.

Uploaded by

Brandi Lynch
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Epilepsy

Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors Complications Preparing for your appointment Tests and diagnosis Treatments and drugs Lifestyle and home remedies Coping and support Basics In-Depth Multimedia Resources

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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in brain cells, seizures can affect any process your brain coordinates. A seizure can produce symptoms such as:

Temporary confusion

A staring spell

Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

Loss of consciousness or awareness

Psychic symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode.

Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins.

Focal seizures When seizures appear to result from abnormal activity in just one area of your brain, they're called focal (partial) seizures. These seizures fall into two categories.

Simple focal seizures. These seizures don't result in loss of consciousness. They may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste or sound. They may also result in involuntary jerking of a body part, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and flashing lights.

Dyscognitive focal seizures. These seizures alter consciousness or awareness and may cause you to lose awareness for a period of time. Dyscognitive focal seizures often result in staring and purposeless movements such as hand rubbing, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles. Generalized seizures Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Six types of generalized seizures exist.

Absence seizures. Absence seizures, also called petit mal seizures, are characterized by staring and subtle body movement. These seizures can cause a brief loss of awareness.

Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause stiffening of your muscles. These seizures usually affect muscles in your back, arms and legs and may cause you to fall to the ground.

Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are associated with rhythmic, jerking muscle movements. These seizures usually affect the neck, face and arms.

Myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches of your arms and legs.

Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures, also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control, which may cause you to suddenly collapse or fall down.

Tonic-clonic seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures, also called grand mal seizures, are characterized by a loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and sometimes loss of bladder control or biting your tongue.

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