Epilepsy: partial seizures
Simple partial seizures
Simple partial seizures affect only one part of the brain and usually last less than a minute. The symptoms will depend on which part of the brain is affected, but may only involve altered sensations such as an unpleasant taste or smell, stiffening of muscles, twitching of a limb, a sensation of fear, or an abnormal feeling, such as numbness, in one part of the body. The person does not lose consciousness in a simple partial seizure.
Complex partial seizures
Complex partial seizures also start in one part of the brain, but unlike simple partial seizures, they result in an altered state of consciousness, in which the person appears confused, is unresponsive or responds inappropriately, and has altered movements such as repetitive fiddling with clothing, lip smacking, chewing, mumbling or wandering.
Secondary generalised seizures
Sometimes a partial seizure can spread to involve the whole brain and becomes a generalised seizure, in which case the symptoms of the partial seizure are called an aura or warning period. The resulting seizure is called a secondary generalised seizure. Generalised seizures involve the whole brain and the person affected loses consciousness. There are several different types of generalised seizures: tonic-clonic seizures; absence seizures; myoclonic seizures; tonic seizures; and atonic seizures.
Last Reviewed: 11 September 2009
- 1. Lowenstein DH. Seizures and epilepsy. Ch 363. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, et al, eds. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 17e. New York: McGraw Hill. Available from: http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4 (accessed Nov 2009).
