SIMPLE PARTIAL (FOCAL) SEIZURES / FOCAL SEIZURE WITH PRESERVED AWARENESS : You remain awake and aware while this happens.
COMPLEX PARTIAL (FOCAL) SEIZURE: You lose your sense of awareness. You will not be able to respond to anyone else during the seizure and you will not have any memory of it. You will make random body movements, such as:
A tonic-clonic seizure, previously known as a “grand mal”, is what most people think of as a typical epileptic fit. They happen in 2 stages – an initial “tonic” stage, shortly followed by a second “clonic” stage: The seizure normally stops after a few minutes, but some last longer. You may have bladder and bowel, accident or tongue bite and mouth bleeding along with these type of seizures. Afterwards, you may have a headache, vomiting or difficulty remembering what happened and feel tired or confused.
An absence seizure is where you lose awareness of your surroundings for a short time (Typically up to 30 sec) but unlikely would you loose posture or fall down. These type of seizures are common in preschool and primary school children, but can happen at any age.
During an absence seizure, a person may:
The seizures usually only last up to 15-30 seconds and you will not be able to remember them. They can happen several times a day.
A myoclonic seizure is where some or all of your body suddenly twitches or jerks, like you’ve had an electric shock. Myoclonic seizures usually only last a fraction of a second, but several can sometimes occur in a short space of time. You normally remain awake during them.
Infantile spasm is a specific type of seizure and is also called as epileptic spasms, salam spells. It is commonly seen in children up to 1 year age but occasionally can happen even at later age. There is typically sudden flexion (forward bending) type of body movement which can last up to 1-3 seconds. Generally has tendency to occur in drowsy state (when you are getting up from sleep or about to sleep) and cluster of multiple spasms. This cluster of spasm is mostly followed by excessive crying and irritability. If these seizures are not identified then can lead to loss of milestones. These seizures need early identification and investigations as they need different treatment than conventional treatment.
Clonic seizures cause the body to shake and jerk like a tonic-clonic seizure, but you do not go stiff at the start.
Tonic seizures cause all your muscles to suddenly become stiff. Usually will result in fall.
Atonic seizures cause all your muscles to suddenly relax, so you may fall to the ground. They tend to be very brief and you’ll usually be able to get up again right after the seizure.
Status epilepticus is the name for any seizure that lasts a long time, or a series of seizures where the person does not regain consciousness in between. It’s a medical emergency and needs to be treated as soon as possible. If seizures do not subside in 5-10 min then 1st aid medications to be used or you need to rush to nearest hospital.
