Index of Seizure Types

While there are over 40 types of seizures; the following are the most common (or so we have been told):

Types

There have been many attempts to categorize seizures, based on both the causes of seizures as well as the different seizure subtypes. A well-recognized classification system is the International Classification of Epileptic Seizure. This divides seizure types by the location in the brain that they originate from.

The two main categories of seizures include partial seizures and generalized seizures.

Partial seizures are those that begin in a focal or discreet area of the brain. This type can be further subdivided into:

• Simple partial: No change in consciousness occurs. Patients may experience weakness, numbness, and unusual smells or tastes. Twitching of the muscles or limbs, turning the head to the side, paralysis, visual changes, or vertigo may occur. When motor symptoms spread slowly from one part of the body to another, this "epileptic march" has been termed jacksonian epilepsy (first described by Hughlings Jackson).
  
  
• Complex partial seizures(temporal lobe): Consciousness is altered during the event. Patients may have some symptoms similar to those in simple partial seizures but have some change in their ability to interact with the environment. Patients may exhibit automatisms (automatic repetitive behavior) such as walking in a circle, sitting and standing, or smacking their lips together. Often accompanying these symptoms are the presence of unusual thoughts, such as the feeling of deja vu (having been someplace before), uncontrollable laughing, fear, visual hallucinations, and experiencing unusual unpleasant odors. These interesting symptoms are thought to be caused by abnormal discharges in the temporal lobe.

Generalized seizures involve larger areas of the brain, often both hemispheres (sides), from the onset. They are further divided into many subtypes. The more common include:

• Tonic-clonic (grand mal): This subtype is what most people associate with seizures. Specific movements of the arms and legs and/or the face may occur with loss of consciousness. A yell or cry often precedes the loss of consciousness. Prior to this, patients may have an aura (an unusual feeling that often warns the patient that they are about to have a seizure). The person will abruptly fall and begin to have jerking movements of their body and head. Drooling, biting of the tongue, and incontinence of urine may occur. When the jerking movements stop, the patient may remain unconscious for a period of time. The seizure usually lasts 5 to 20 minutes. They often awaken confused and may sleep for a period of time. The patients may experience prolonged weakness after the event; this is termed Todds paralysis.
  
  
• Absence (petit mal): Loss of consciousness only occurs, without associated motor symptoms. Usually there is no aura, or warning. The loss of consciousness is brief; the patient may appear to be involved with the environment and briefly stop what they are doing, stare for 5 to 10 seconds, and then continue their activity. No memory of the event exits. Subtle motor movements may accompany the alteration in consciousness.
  
  
• Myoclonic: Myoclonic seizures are characterized by a brief jerking movement that arises from the central nervous system, usually involving both sides of the body. The movement may be very subtle or very dramatic. There are many different syndromes associated with myoclonic seizures, including juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, West syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Most cases of myoclonic epilepsy occur during the first 5 years of life.

-----

West Syndrome
West syndrome involves a group of symptoms including infantile spasms, retardation of psychomotor development, and a particular abnormality on the electroencephalogram (EEG) known as hypsarrhythmia. Infantile spasms are characterized by a particular posturing of the infant’s body, in which the child assumes a jack-knife, or folded, position. These spasms may occur frequently in the course of the day or may be continuous. Neurological problems are ultimately found in most of these children. The hypsarrhythmia pattern seen on the EEG is a grossly disorganized pattern of electrical brain activity. It is often difficult to control the seizures in this syndrome because they usually respond poorly to most anticonvulsant medications.

Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is characterized by the early onset of a common seizure type called minor motor seizures. These seizures include the aforementioned myoclonic seizures, atypical absence seizures, and atonic seizures. Atypical absence seizures may involve staring and brief episodes of unconsciousness. They may occur in cycles and are associated with EEG findings different from those seen in typical absence seizures. Atonic seizures may be associated with sudden loss of muscle tone.

Status Epilepticus
Status epilepticus is prolonged, repetitive seizure activity that lasts more than 20 to 30 minutes, during time which the patient is unconscious. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency with a significantly poor outcome; it can result in death if not treated aggressively. Its causes include improper use of certain medications, stroke, infection, trauma, cardiac arrest, drug overdose, and brain tumor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seizure Types

• A
  
  Abdominal Seizures ; Absence Seizures ; Akinetic Seizures ; Atonic
  Seizures ; Aura ; Autonomic Seizures ; Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
  
  
  
  
• B
  
  Bilateral Myoclonus Seizures
  
  
  
  
• C
  
  Catamenial Seizures ; Clonic Seizures ;Complex Partial Seizures
  
  
  
  
• D
  
  Drop Seizures
  
  
  
  
• E
  
  Emotional Seizures
  
  
  
  
• F
  
  Febrile Seizures ; Focal Seizures
  
  
  
• G
  
  Gelastic Seizures ; Grand Mal Seizures
  
  
  
  
• I
  
  Infantile Spasms
  
  
  
  
• J
  
  Jacksonian Seizures
  
  
  
  
• L
  
  Laflora Disease ; Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
  
  
  
  
• M
  
  Motor Seizures ; Multi-focal Seizures ; Musicogenic Seizures ; Myoclonic Seizures
  
  
  
  
• N
  
  Neonatal Seizures ; Nocturnal Seizures
  
  
  
  
• P
  
  Petit Mal Seizures ; Photosensitive Seizures ; Prolonged Seizures ; Pseudo Seizures ; Psychogenic Seizures ; Psychomotor Seizures
  
  
  
• R
  
  Reflex Seizures ; Rolandic Epilepsy
  
  
  
  
• S
  
  Secondarily Generalized Seizures ; Sensory Seizures ; Simple Partial Seizures ; Status Epilepticus ; Subtle Seizures ; Sylvan Seizures
  
  
  
  
• T
  
  Temporal Lobe Seizures ; Tonic Seizures ; Tonic-Clonic Seizures
  
  
  
  
• V
  
  Visual Seizures
  
  
  
  
• W
  
  Withdrawal Seizures

Patients should be evaluated thoroughly after an initial seizure. It is imperative that the clinician take a complete and detailed patient history, including details of birth, childhood, family history, and medication regimen; and a thorough medical history, including any illnesses of the nervous system. A thorough history of drug and alcohol use is equally important.

It also is helpful to distinguish seizure subtypes, partial or generalized; time of day of the event, including whether the seizure occurred during wakefulness or sleep; and any known triggers, such as a flickering light, severe sleep deprivation, or dehydration.

Thorough general physical and detailed neurological examinations also should be performed.


Laboratory data utilized in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with seizure disorders may include CAT scan imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography (EEG). A complete blood laboratory panel, including drug-toxic screening, and urinalysis are usually performed.

CAT scan brain imaging is often the first radiological study obtained, especially in the emergency room setting. It can indicate pathology such as a brain tumor, stroke, brain hemorrhage, acute or remote trauma, and infection. Limitations include inability to evaluate certain structures in the brain in detail, particularly the temporal lobes of the brain, often the first sites of seizure activity.

MRI brain imaging is performed for many patients with seizure disorders. It has the ability to visualize in great detail much of our brain anatomy. Subtle asymmetries in relevant structures, as well as undetected mass lesions, small strokes, and evidence of trauma may be uncovered. The use of a contrast agent (injected into the vein) can enhance the ability to show underlying abnormalities.

EEG (also known as "brain wave") provides information about the electrical activity in the brain. Unlike CAT or MRI, it does not produce an image of the brain, but supplies information about the function or dysfunction of parts of the brain. Multiple small electrodes are placed at specific points on the scalp on both sides of the head to record activity generated mainly by the cerebral cortex. Brain wave activity is usually recorded for 30-45 minutes. Many patients will also be tested while hyperventilating (breathing rapidly and deeply), when flashing lights are flashing, while sleeping, or when sleep deprived. The brain normally exhibits particular patterns on the EEG during wakefulness, drowsiness, and sleep. The duration and character of normal brain-wave activity can be used as a baseline for comparison with abnormal waves on an EEG.

Some of the findings on EEG are specific to particular disorders and subtypes of epilepsy. Activity during a seizure can be identified by a pattern on the graph indicating epilepsy called epileptiform. Correlating this type of data with clinical symptoms of seizures often helps make an accurate diagnosis. The EEG recording between seizures is often abnormal in patients with epilepsy, and so can be helpful in this setting.

EEG can be combined with video monitoring to record activity both electrically and visually. EEG can also be performed in a long-term care setting with a portable ambulatory unit, to monitor patients for up to many days at a time.

Other uses of the EEG include evaluation of altered states of consciousness, brain damage, metabolic-toxic injury, and suspected brain death.

Epilepsy is not associated with any particular disease. Many abnormalities of the nervous system can result in seizure activity. Seizures can also occur in the normal nervous system when its metabolic balance is disturbed. The etiology (cause) of epilepsy may be idiopathic (not clearly known) or related to a particular disease state. About 35% of all cases of epilepsy have no clearly definable cause.

The following summarizes some of the more common factors leading to seizure activity:

1. Genetic factors: It is now accepted that some persons may have a genetic predisposition to the development of seizures. There is also an increased incidence of epilepsy in relatives of those with a seizure disorder.

2. Head injury: Seizures may develop at or around the time of injury or years after (usually not more than two years later). They may occur with either an "open" or "closed " head injury.

3. Stroke/cerebrovascular disorders: Seizures can occur at the time of a stroke or many years later. They may occur with strokes that result in lack of blood flow to the brain or with those that involve bleeding into or around the brain.

4. Metabolic disturbances: This group of disorders changes levels of various metabolic substances in the body. These disease states sometimes result in seizures.

• Electrolyte disturbances (altered levels of sodium, calcium, or magnesium)
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar)
• Renal failure (kidney disease) with uremia (increased urea in the blood) or changes that occur around the time of kidney dialysis .
• Hepatic failure (severe liver disease) and elevation of associated toxins
• Hypoxia (lowered oxygen delivery to the brain)

5. Toxic causes: The presence of certain drugs can cause seizure activity. In addition, abrupt withdrawal of some substances can lead to seizure activity. These substances that may induce seizures include the tricyclic antidepressants, lithium , antipsychotic medications, aminophylline, and high doses of penicillin. Illicit drug use, particularly cocaine, heroine, amphetamines, and PCP, can cause seizures. Alcohol withdrawal can be associated with seizure activity. These seizures usually occur 12-24 hours after the last drink but can occur up until 48 hours or more after binge drinking. Withdrawal from prescription drugs and agents such as barbiturates and narcotics can result in seizure activity.

6. Infections: Infections of the nervous system may result in a lowered seizure threshold. These may include meningitis (infections of the coverings of the brain and spinal fluid), encephalitis (infection of the brain itself), and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and related infections.

7. Tumors and space-occupying lesions: Brain tumors, both malignant (cancerous) and benign, may be associated with seizures. The anatomic location of the abnormality influences the likelihood of having seizures.

8. Degenerative disorders: There are many neurodegenerative disorders that are accompanied by seizures. These include tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Tay-Sachs disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), and Sturge-Weber syndrome.

9. Brain damage in infancy: Cerebral palsy secondary to lack of oxygen, infection, or trauma is associated with epilepsy.

10. Febrile seizures: These are an age-associated form of epilepsy that may present as a single seizure or may be recurring. They are associated with a high fever in children 3 months to 4 years of age and occur in 3%-4% of children.

11. TMBC: *Too many brain cells can be caused by the brain cells not dissolving as we grow up and then it can cause a scar on the brain. The other way it can happen is when the mother is pregnant with child and goes through trauma causing the brain cells not to split equally on both sides of the brain and then it leaves a scar on the brain causing seizures. Information provided by: Porkette (Sue) [Will add a formal tag once I gather more information - This is a place holder]

12. Celiac Disease and Nutritional Deficiency: There is so much evidenced based information on gluten related seizures, but it is something our neurologists rarely consider. The sad part is that if detected early enough, and a gluten free diet is begun promptly, sometimes the seizures will completely resolve. It should definitely be considered in anyone with a family history of autoimmune disease or family history of GI disease. Neurological symptoms can be present without GI symptoms. Information provided by: "jcc" (Cara) Visit The Gluten File for more information.

Disorders That Mimic Seizure Disorders
True seizure disorders must be differentiated from a variety of problems whose symptoms approximate or closely resemble those of epilepsy. These include cerebrovascular (stroke-related) disorders, migraine, narcolepsy, syncope (fainting), and anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. Another type of spell well known to physicians is the so-called pseudoseizure, or more properly nonepileptogenic seizure. These spells are not triggered by nerve cell discharges that cause true epilepsy, although the patient may experience muscle twitching and even apparent loss of consciousness. These spells have a psychiatric component and often coexist in persons who have true epilepsy. EEG monitoring can help distinguish disorders that mimic epilepsy from true seizures.







Most information has been brought to you by Google, Neurologychannel.com, epilepsyontario.com and myepilepsy.com.

I think I strained my brain!

Thanks Ellie! That's awesome!

Hi Ellie,
Thanks for the great info. There's another thing that I can think of that causes sz. and that is to many brain cells that don't disolve and then leave a scar on the brain. This is what happened to me and my Epi. told me he's only had 2 other cases like mine in all the yrs. he's been working. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Sue!

I suppose since it's so rare that's why I'm having a heck of a time finding any information online. Would you happen to have any more information, or a website link, etc.? Any information would be appreciated (so I can add a better description above).

Hi Ellie,
To many brain cells can be caused by the brain cells not disolving as we grow up and then it can cause a scar on the brain. The other way it can happen is when the mother is with child and goes through trauma causing the brain cells not to split equally on both sides of the brain and then it leaves a scar on the brain causing sz. I found out this is what happened to me when I had my wada test a few yrs. ago. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Updated the list (Thanks Sue and Cara)