Three Commonly Known Types of Seizures

Seizures occur when there is a brief disruption or change in the electrical activity of the brain. During normal brain activity the electrical impulses are orderly and are perfectly choreographed . When the impulses are interrupted or become erratic a seizure can occur. The types of seizures are as varied as their causes. While some people will only have one seizure in a lifetime, others will have them for their entire lives.

Causes

• Seizures are grouped into two fairly broad categories: generalized and partial. Caused by electrical impulses in the brain, a seizure can involve the entire brain (generalized), or it can involve a small area as in the partial seizure.

  A seizure can be caused by one or many factors such as an injury to the brain, a medical condition or even a fever. Many diseases such as epilepsy, dementia or bacterial meningitis can also cause seizures. Additional causes can be alcohol withdrawal, lead poisoning or overheating.

Tonic Clonic

• Tonic clonic is the most dramatic and alarming seizure to witness. Formerly called the grand mal seizure, it involves the entire body. This type of seizure can cause injury such as tongue biting and bruising from the intense convulsing. The victim may also lose bladder and bowel control during the seizure. The tonic clonic seizure has four stages. During the first stage the person will usually collapse, losing consciousness. The second stage, called the tonic stage, causes the body to stiffen for 30 to 60 seconds. This is followed by the clonic stage which involves violent jerking of the entire body. The last stage is marked by a deep sleep called the postictal phase.

Absence

• Absence seizures, formerly called petit mal seizures, are short periods of what may appear to be daydreaming. The person usually looks off in a stare, may have chewing motions and is generally unresponsive. Absence seizures last approximately 10 to 20 seconds and when an the seizure ends, there are no after effects. The person is usually unaware that he even had a seizure. This type of seizure commonly begins between the ages of 4 and 14, and nearly 70 percent of the cases will disappear by age 18.

Myoclonic

• Myoclonic seizures usually involve both sides of the body. The seizure is characterized by a quick jerking that originates from the central nervous system. Myoclonic seizures have been described by patients as small electric shocks, sometimes causing them to throw or drop objects involuntarily.

  Typically associated with different syndromes such as West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut and Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, this type of seizures usually begins in early childhood.

Treatment

• Seizures are treated with medications called anticonvulsants. There are many types of these medications, and each works in a specific way. The medication prescribed will depend on the type and frequency of the seizures. Ideally, a single drug will be used, as combining medications only adds to the possibility of unpleasant side effects. For the medications to work effectively they will need to stay at a constant level in the body. This is achieved by adhering to the correct dosing and the careful monitoring of medication levels in the blood. Some examples of the medications prescribed for seizures are, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital and Carbamazepine, although the search for new and better drugs is ongoing.