complex partial seizures

complex partial seizures



 Seizures and epilepsy in children
What is a seizure?

Seizures are sudden temporary changes in movement, sensation, or physical behavior caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the brain.

There are several types of seizures or seizures. some last only a few seconds, while others can last even several minutes. The specific type of seizure that a person suffers depends on the part of the brain where it starts, how it extends and how much, or what part of the brain tissue takes part. Seizures can cause:

    Loss of consciousness
    Seizures (shaking of the whole body)
    Confusion
    Short periods of staring
    A sudden feeling of fear or panic
    Flexion, stiffness, shaking or contraction of the upper body
    Involuntary nodding

What is epilepsy?

The term epilepsy is used to describe seizures or seizures that occur repetitively for a time without any critical illness present (such as fever) or without a serious brain injury. Sometimes the cause of recurrent attacks (symptomatic epilepsy) is known, and sometimes the cause is not known (idopathic epilepsy).

    A doctor is usually the person who diagnoses a child with epilepsy if the following conditions occur:
    The child suffers one or several seizures without provocation
    The doctor determines that the child is likely to have another seizure or seizure
    The cause of the child's seizure is not the direct result of another disease such as diabetes, a serious infection or a critical brain injury.

The most common types of seizures
The doctor classifies seizures into two main categories based on how much brain tissue is involved. These include:

    Generalized seizures involving the entire brain
    Focused / localized seizures in which only part of the brain intervenes.

Common generalized seizures:

Convulsive crises (also known as generalized tonic-clonic seizures) in which the whole body takes part. These seizures were formerly called "great bad" seizures. This is the most dramatic type of attack that causes rapid, rhythmic and sometimes violent shocks and contortions that often lead to the loss of consciousness. These seizures begin in one part of the brain, causing a part of the body to move and then progress to the entire brain tissue with movement on both sides of the body. These seizures often last 2 to 3 minutes and most often end on their own.

Seizures occur in 5 out of 100 people at some time during childhood. It is important to mention that not all people who suffer a single seizure will suffer from epilepsy.

The doctor classifies seizures into two main categories based on how much brain tissue is involved. These include:

The term epilepsy is used to describe seizures or attacks that occur repetitively for a time without any

Crisis of absence or minor epilepsy (previously known as "little bad" seizures) are very short episodes with a brief moment of a fixed gaze (a few seconds) and loss of attention. They may be accompanied by other mild symptoms such as fluttering of the eyelids, blinking of the eyes, clicking of the lips. These occur mainly in young children and are so subtle that sometimes they are not noticed until they begin to affect their school work.

Focal or localized seizures:

Focal seizures (formerly known as complex partial seizures) involve abnormal electrical activity in one part of the brain. During these seizures people may feel confused and affect their level of consciousness. They often perform random and meaningless repetitive activities such as twisting their hands or walking slowly in a circle. This person is not aware of what is happening around them and may not be able to talk normally. This type of seizure often lasts 1 to 2 minutes.

Focal seizures involve jerking one or more pairs of the body, changes in the senses such as odors or tingling sensation that are not obvious to those who observe them. During this seizure, the person is fully aware of what is happening. These seizures that do not affect the level of consciousness are known as simple partial seizures.

Seizures may begin in a certain part of the brain and spread to both sides of the brain. In some cases, a focal seizure can lead to a seizure.

Other disorders that look like seizures

Some children experience sudden episodes that can hide or mimic seizures, but they are not. Examples of this include:

    Hold your breath
    Fading (syncope)
    Facial and body spasm (myoclonus)
    Uncommon sleep disorders (night terror, sleepwalking and cataplexy)

These can occur only once or reoccur in a limited period. Again, although these episodes may seem like epilepsy or true seizures, they are not and require a totally different treatment.
If your child has a seizure

Most seizures stop on their own and do not require immediate medical treatment. If your child is having a seizure, protect him from injuries by placing him on his side with his hips higher than his head, so that he does not choke if he vomits and does not put anything in his mouth.

    If the seizure does not stop in two to three minutes or if it is unusually severe (difficulty breathing, suffocation, blue discoloration of the skin, several seizures in a row), call 911 for emergency medical assistance. However, do not leave the child alone. After the seizure stops, call the pediatrician immediately and arrange to meet at the doctor's clinic or nearest emergency department. Also, call your doctor if your child takes anticonvulsant medications, since it may mean that you should adjust the dose.

    If your child has diabetes, is injured or has a seizure in the water, it is always an emergency and you should call 911 immediately

    If your child has a fever, the pediatrician will check to see if there is an infection. If there is no fever and it was your child's first seizure, the doctor will try to determine other possible causes by asking if there is a family history of cAs alarming as seizures may be, it is a comfort to know that the likelihood of your child having another seizure is greatly reduced when he grows up. (Only 1 in 100 adults ever has a seizure.) Unfortunately, there is still a lot of ignorance and confusion about seizures, so it's important that your child's friends and teachers know about their condition.

If you need support or additional information, check with your pediatrician or contact your local or state Epilepsy branchFoundation of America. (The American Epilepsy Foundation - Website in English).