New terms to classify and describe seizures have been developed by the International League Against Epilepsy. These changes were made to make the names of seizures less confusing, more accurate, and descriptive of what is happening to the patient. There are different types of seizures. Epilepsy is one of them and is a disorder of the brain. Most people are diagnosed with epilepsy when they have had two or more seizures. People who have been diagnosed with epilepsy can have more than one type of seizure.
The signs of a seizure mostly depend on the type of seizure. Sometimes it can be hard to tell when a person is having a seizure. A person who is having a seizure may look confused or like they are staring at something that is not there. Some seizures can cause a person to fall, shake, or become unaware of what is going on around them.
Major Types Of Seizures
Seizures can be classified into two groups-
Generalized Seizures: These seizures affect both sides of the brain.
- Petit mal seizures, also called absence seizures, can cause rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space.
- Grand mal seizures, also called tonic-clonic seizures, can make a person
- Cry out
- Lose consciousness
- Fall to the ground
- Have muscle jerks or spasms
Patients may also feel tired after a tonic-clonic seizure.
Focal Seizures: These seizures are located in one area of the brain. Focal seizures are also called partial seizures.
- Simple focal seizures affect only a small part of the brain. Focal seizures can cause twitching or a change in sensation, like a sudden strange taste or smell.
- Complex focal seizures can make a person confused or dazed. The person having a seizure will be unable to respond to questions or directions for a few minutes.
- Secondary generalized seizures begin in one part of the human brain and then spread to both sides of the brain. In other words, the person experiences a focal seizure, followed by a generalized seizure. These seizures may last as long as a few minutes.