What is epilepsy?
Epileptic seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause involuntary movements, changes in behavior and sometimes a loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can result from a wide variety of disorders including brain injury and stroke. Other kinds of seizures are called unprovoked seizures because no cause can be identified.
Widely regarded as a pediatric disorder, almost one-third of new cases are diagnosed in early childhood. A first seizure requires careful diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of the event and the most appropriate treatment. Recurrent epileptic seizures can affect neural development in young children and present special challenges to patients and their families.
Types of seizures
Seizure disorders are classified into two groups: generalized seizures, which affect both sides of the brain, and focal or partial seizures, which are localized to one part of the brain.
Generalized seizures
There are two types of generalized seizures:
- Absence seizures: These seizures are also called petit mal seizures. Absence seizures can cause rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space.
- Tonic-clonic seizures: These seizures are also called grand mal seizures. They can make a person cry out, lose consciousness, fall to the ground and have muscle spasms. The person may feel tired after a tonic-clonic seizure.
Focal onset seizures
Focal onset seizures, also called partial seizures, can cause twitching or a change in sensation such as a strange taste or smell. There are two types of focal onset seizures:
- Complex focal onset seizures: This type of seizure can make a person confused, dazed and unable to respond to questions or directions for a few minutes.
- Secondary generalized seizures: These seizures begin in one part of the brain, but then spread to both sides of the brain.
Seizure symptoms
Seizure symptoms can vary significantly. Recognizing a seizure can also be difficult when symptoms are mild. Some seizures involve jerky bodily movements, whereas others may look like the person is daydreaming. Doctors can identify a specific cause for seizures in some cases, but if not, the seizures are known as unprovoked seizures.
Symptoms someone may be having a seizure include:
- Staring into space
- Rolling back of eyes
- Unusual repetitive movements such as blinking or head nodding
- Nausea or headaches
- Confusion, sleepiness or weakness
- Feeling tingling, pins-and-needles sensations or numbness in parts of the body
- Sudden feelings of fear or anger
- Out-of-body sensations
- Distortions in sense of sight, taste or smell
- Suddenly falling
- Involuntary jerking of arms, legs or body
- Loss of consciousness or lack of awareness
- Losing control of urine or stool
Most seizures only last a few minutes or less. If you believe someone is having a seizure, and it lasts more than a few minutes, seek medical help immediately. A single seizure or a series of multiple epileptic seizures that last more than five minutes without recovery between is called status epilepticus.
Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that can cause permanent brain damage or death and requires immediate care. Call 911 for help right away if you think someone is experiencing status epilepticus.
Seizure causes & risk factors of epilepsy
In many cases, the exact cause of seizure disorders is unknown. Stroke, head trauma or infection can be the cause in adults, and genetics play an important role in childhood seizures.
Symptoms someone may be having a seizure include:
- Staring into space
- Rolling back of eyes
- Unusual repetitive movements such as blinking or head nodding
- Nausea or headaches
- Confusion, sleepiness or weakness
- Feeling tingling, pins-and-needles sensations or numbness in parts of the body
- Sudden feelings of fear or anger
- Out-of-body sensations
- Distortions in sense of sight, taste or smell
- Suddenly falling
- Involuntary jerking of arms, legs or body
- Loss of consciousness or lack of awareness
- Losing control of urine or stool
Most seizures only last a few minutes or less. If you believe someone is having a seizure, and it lasts more than a few minutes, seek medical help immediately. A single seizure or a series of multiple epileptic seizures that last more than five minutes without recovery between is called status epilepticus.
Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that can cause permanent brain damage or death and requires immediate care. Call 911 for help right away if you think someone is experiencing status epilepticus.
Seizure causes & risk factors of epilepsy
In many cases, the exact cause of seizure disorders is unknown. Stroke, head trauma or infection can be the cause in adults, and genetics play an important role in childhood seizures.
Some risk factors that can increase the risk of developing epileptic seizures include:
- Family history of epileptic seizures
- Brain malformation such as a lesion
- Head trauma
- Brain hemorrhage
- Lack of oxygen at birth
- Metabolic abnormality
- History of stroke