Generalized Seizures:

Generalized seizures affect both sides of
the brain and result in a loss of
consciousness.

Absence (Petit Mal): Absence seizures
include an interruption to consciousness
where the person experiencing the seizure
seems to become vacant and
unresponsive for a short period of time
(usually up to 30 seconds). Slight muscle
twitching may occur. Absence seizures
include loss of awareness, interruption to
consciousness (a person can seem
unresponsive for a short period of time),
and staring spells. The duration of
absence seizures are usually brief, and
are sometimes not detected. They are
most common in children and can affect
the child's learning.

Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal): Tonic-clonic
seizures involve an initial stiffening of the  
muscles (tonic phase) followed by  
rhythmic jerking (clonic phase). Breathing
may decrease or cease during the tonic
phase and then resume, sometimes
irregularly, during the clonic phase.
Incontinence and tonge biting can occur.
This seizure type is most often affiliated
with epilepsy.

Atonic (Drop Attack): Atonic seizures
involve the loss of muscle tone, causing
the person to fall to the ground. Most
children who have this type of seizure are
required to wear a helmet.

Myolonic: Involve a brief, rapid contraction
of muscles and can result in sudden jerks
of the muscles.

Clonic Seizures: Clonic seizures are
myoclonus that repeat at a rate of 2-3 per
second.

Status Epilepticus:Status epilepticus is a
continuous seizure state with no recovery
between seizures. If a tonic-clonic seizure
lasts longer than 5 minutes, it is a
life-threatening condition and emergency
care should be seeked immediately.

    Partial Seizures:

Partial seizures cause no interruption of
consciousness and may cause a sensory
experience (perception of smells, sounds,
voices, etc). Partial seizures are limited to
a specific area of the brain.

Simple- Partial:  Consciousness is
retained during this seizure type and
patients usually remain awake and can
recall what happened. Emotions can be
affected.

Complex- Partial: Consciousness may be
lost during a complex-partial seizure and
often take place in the temporal lobes. A
complex partial seizure may involve the
unconscious repetition of simple actions
or a blank stare. Unawareness of the
occurance and no memory of the seizure
is also common.
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