What are the Different Types of Seizures? - Epilepsy Queensland
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What are the different types of seizures?

Generally, seizures fall into two categories: focal and generalised seizures. The difference between these types is how they begin.

Focal seizures

Focal seizures start in one part of the brain and affect the part of the body controlled by that part of the brain. The symptoms the person experiences will depend on what function that part of the brain controls (or is associated with.) The seizure may involve the involuntary movement or stiffening of a limb, feelings of déjà vu, unpleasant smells or tastes, or sensations in the stomach such as butterflies or nausea. The seizure usually lasts less than two minutes.

People can have different levels of consciousness during focal seizures. Sometimes the person remains alert throughout the seizures and can remember what happens. A person having a focal seizure can retain full awareness, but focal seizures can also affect a person’s level of consciousness. In some focal seizures, the person is in a dyscognitive state. This means their level of consciousness is altered rather than lost. The person may often appear confused and dazed and may do strange and repetitive actions like fiddling with their clothes, making chewing movements or uttering unusual sounds.

These behaviours may also be described as trance-like or robot-like and are called automatisms. The seizure usually lasts for one or two minutes to several hours. Afterwards, the person may have no memory of the seizure or the events just before or after it. This type of seizure can be mistaken for drug/alcohol affected behaviour or psychiatric disturbance. 

At times focal seizures can evolve to become generalised seizures.

Generalised seizures

Primary generalised seizures involve the whole brain and therefore involve the whole body. There are many types of generalised seizures – some convulsive, others non-convulsive.

Absence seizures

These brief, non-convulsive events involve the whole brain (generalised) and usually occur in children. With this type of seizure, the person’s awareness and responsiveness are impaired.  They may simply stare; their eyes might roll back or their eyelids flutter.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between absence seizures and daydreaming. However, absence seizures start suddenly, cannot be interrupted, last a few seconds, and then stop suddenly. The person usually resumes what they are doing. Although these seizures last less than 10 seconds, they can occur many times daily. If they occur frequently, they can be very disruptive, such as in a learning environment.

Myoclonic seizures

Myoclonic seizures are brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles, usually lasting no more than a second or two, which at times can result in a fall. There can just one, but sometimes many will occur within a short time (clusters.)

Atonic seizures

Atonic seizures cause a sudden loss or decrease of normal muscle tone and the person often falls to the ground. Seizures usually last less than 15 seconds. Often called drop attacks, these seizures can cause head or facial injury. Wearing protective headwear may help avoid this.

Tonic seizures

Tonic seizures greatly increase normal muscle tone and the body or limbs sudden stiffen. These seizures most often occur in clusters during sleep, although they can occur when the person is awake. If the person is standing, they will fall quite heavily, often injuring their head. Protective headwear may help avoid injury. Seizures usually last less than 20 seconds.

Tonic-clonic seizures

During a tonic-clonic seizure a person’s body stiffens, air is forced past the vocal cords causes a cry or groan, and they fall to the ground (the tonic phase). Their limbs then begin to jerk in strong, symmetrical, rhythmic movements (the clonic phase). The person may dribble from the mouth, go blue or red in the face or lose control of their bladder and/or bowel as the body relaxes.

As consciousness returns, the person may be confused, drowsy, agitated or depressed. They may have a headache and want to sleep. This drowsiness can last for a numbers of hours.

Although this type of seizure can be frightening to watch, the seizure itself is unlikely to seriously harm the person having the seizure. They may, however, vomit or bite their tongue and can sometimes injure themselves if they hit nearby objects as they fall or convulse.

Tonic-clonic seizures generally last one to three minutes. If the active movements of the seizure last more than five minutes, it is advisable to call an ambulance.

Prolonged seizures, or a series of seizures without a normal break in between, indicate a dangerous condition called convulsive status epilepticus and demands emergency treatment.

In the event of a seizure follow instructions in the individual's seizure management plan
To learn more...

Please contact our Services Team on 07 3435 5000 or 1300 852 853 (outside Brisbane metro) or email services@epilepsyqueensland.com.au.

Epilepsy Queensland