The symptoms of a seizure vary according to the type of seizure.
Symptoms of
tonic clonic seizure (
grand-mal seizure) include:
- Aura:
- Sensation that a seizure is going to occur
- Episodes of staring
- Loss of awareness
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions:
- Uncontrolled, rhythmic muscle spasms
- Spasms may be violent
- May occur in the arms, legs, neck, face and trunk
- Tongue biting
- Short period of confusion after the seizure
- Short period of sleepiness after the seizure
Symptoms of
psychomotor seizure include:
- These seizures occur in an area of the brain known as the temporal lobe.
- Those with temporal lobe epilepsy usually experience an aura prior to the convulsion.
- The aura may include hallucinations or feelings of anxiety.
Symptoms of
simple partial seizure include:
- These are the most common type of seizure seen in people with epilepsy.
- The seizure is limited to one area of the brain.
- The person remains conscious during the seizure.
- The person appears anxious during the seizure.
- The person may make repetitive movements that are confined to a single area of the body, such as the thumb or the big toe.
- Simple partial seizures can spread within the brain, leading to symptoms of a grand-mal seizure.
Symptoms of
complex partial seizure include:
- The seizure occurs in the frontal lobe or the temporal lobe of the brain.
- The person has decreased awareness of himself and his surroundings.
- In most cases, the person will not respond.
- In some cases, they respond only to very simple commands.
- Commonly, the person displays automatisms, which are involuntary actions or vocalizations:
- Examples of automatisms include moaning, lip-smacking, chewing motions, or unusual speech.
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