What are partial seizures?
A person with a seizure has a sudden increase in electrical activity in the brain. Partial seizures often occur in a part of the brain called the temporal lobe. Partial seizures are divided into two types: simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. A person with a simple seizure remains aware during the seizure, while a person with a complex seizure loses awareness during the seizure. A Jacksonian seizure is a prolonged, simple partial motor seizure. Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure.

What are the symptoms of partial seizures?
Symptoms of partial seizures depend on the type of seizure. Symptoms of a simple partial seizure include the sensation that a seizure is about to occur, awareness of the seizure, anxiousness, and repetitive movements in one location of the body. Symptoms of a complex partial seizure include loss of awareness, unintentional emotional outbursts or vocal sounds, and involuntary actions, such as chewing or clumsiness.

How does the doctor treat partial seizures?
Treatment for partial seizures may include anticonvulsant medications. Additional treatment may include surgery or a vagus nerve stimulation implant, which sends electrical impulses through a nerve in the chest, and to the brain. The electrical impulses suppress the electrical activity in the brain that causes the seizures.