What Is a Mild Seizure?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 60 percent of epileptics have mild seizures. A mild seizure is caused by irregular electrical activity from abnormal brain tissue, which may be of a congenital origin since birth. On the other hand, it may have developed from an infection, head injury or other condition. However, often the cause cannot be determined.

Identification

• Mild seizures are those that do not cause convulsions. Also known as focal seizures or partial seizures, mild seizures occur in only one side (cerebral hemisphere) of the brain. Striking at any age, partial seizures may be only a single episode or happen repeatedly and be chronic (epilepsy). They're seen more in children than in adults.

Symptoms

• Usually the symptoms signaling a simple febrile seizure are on the initial day of a fever, when the fever enters its first stage. In other words, a febrile seizure can occur before realizing someone, most often a child, is even ill. Typically, the victim's body becomes stiff, with arms and legs beginning to twitch. Losing consciousness, some people will wet or soil themselves. Vomiting or foaming at the mouth can also occur. Generally, a febrile seizure doesn't last more than five minutes.

Types

• Mild seizures are subdivided into two categories: simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. In simple partial seizures consciousness is retained, whereas in complex partial seizures consciousness is lost or weakened.

Simple Partial Seizures

• People undergoing simple partial seizures are aware of what's going on. Simple partial seizures affect one's emotions, movement, sensations and feelings and can be frightening. They also can't move or speak until the seizure is over.

Complex Partial Seizures

• A complex partial seizure usually beings with someone staring blankly and losing contact with surroundings. Often this is followed by the person mumbling, fumbling with clothing and showing chewing motions with the mouth. Wandering is another symptom as someone experiencing a mild seizure may roam from room to room, unaware of what he's doing. While experiencing a complex partial seizure, one is unable to normally interact with others and can't control movement, actions or speech. Although appearing conscious, he stands with his eyes open, and can move about, as if in a trance or dreamlike state. In a complex partial seizure a person may speak, but his words usually don't make sense.

Diagnosis

• It's not easy diagnosing only a single mild seizure, although it's easier in people who've had repeated attacks and have risk factors including a history of head injuries. Usually a mild seizure is diagnosed with head X-rays. EEGs can show the possible location of the seizure and changes in the brain. Blood tests are also used, including glucose (blood sugar), blood chemistry, blood count and other tests. CTs or MRI scans are also used in a diagnosis.