Seizure Types

Generalized Seizures

• Involve the whole brain
• Common types include absence and tonic-clonic
• Symptoms may include convulsions, staring, muscle spasms and falls

Generalized Absence Seizures

• Pause in activity with blank stare
• Brief lapse of awareness
• Possible chewing or blinking motion
• Usually lasts 1 to 10 seconds
• May occur many times a day
• May be confused with:
• Daydreaming
• Lack of attention
• ADD

Partial Seizures

• Involve only part of the brain
• Common types include simple partial and complex partial
• Symptoms relate to the part of the brain affected

Generalized Tonic Clonic

• A sudden, hoarse cry
• Loss of consciousness
• A fall
• Convulsions (stiffening of arms and legs followed by rhythmic jerking)
• Shallow breathing and drooling may occur
• Possible loss of bowel or bladder control
• Occasionally skin, nails, lips may turn blue
• Generally lasts 1 to 3 minutes
• Usually followed by confusion, headache, tiredness, soreness, speech difficulty