Understanding Partial Seizures

A partial seizure, also known as a focal seizure, is caused by abnormal electrical activity affecting a small part of the brain. These seizures are categorized into two types: simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. While both are types of partial onset seizures, they exhibit some distinct differences. In this blog, we will explore partial epilepsy, its symptoms, causes, the differences between simple and complex partial seizures, and the best treatment for partial epilepsy in India.

Simple Partial Seizures

Simple partial seizures, also known as partial simple seizures, are a type of focal seizure where the patient does not lose consciousness. These seizures are typically brief, lasting between 1 to 2 minutes, and can be challenging to detect. During a simple partial seizure, individuals may experience changes in emotions and how their senses perceive stimuli. These seizures can manifest in various forms, affecting different parts of the body.

Types of Simple Partial Seizures

Simple partial seizures can be classified based on the symptoms they produce:

Motor Partial Seizures

Affect muscles, causing movements like jerking or twitching in a specific part of the body.

Sensory Partial Seizures

Affect the senses, leading to unusual sensations such as tingling or numbness.

Autonomic Partial Seizures

Affect autonomic functions, causing symptoms like sweating, nausea, or changes in heart rate.

Psychic Partial Seizures

Affect thoughts and feelings, causing experiences such as déjà vu, fear, or hallucinations.

Symptoms of Simple Partial Seizures

Patients with simple partial epilepsy may exhibit various symptoms, including:

Staring blankly into space

Muscle tightening

Pain and discomfort

Unusual head movements

Tingling or numbness

Eyes moving from side to side

Hallucinations

Nausea and vomiting

Dilated pupils

Sweating

Vision troubles

Mood and emotion swings

Temporary loss of speech

A simple partial seizure can also present as an aura, a sensation or feeling that serves as a warning of a larger seizure. Recognizing and treating these seizures promptly is crucial to prevent more severe episodes.

Complex Partial Seizures

Complex partial seizures result in a loss of awareness and consciousness. These seizures, also known as focal dyscognitive seizures, can lead to non-purposeful movements, such as rubbing hands together or smacking lips. Complex partial seizures may start in the frontal lobe, resulting in shorter episodes, or in the temporal lobe, leading to relatively longer seizures.

Symptoms of Complex Partial Seizures

During a complex partial seizure, patients may:

Appear to be daydreaming or staring blankly into space

Lose awareness of their surroundings

Exhibit repetitive movements called automatisms, including:

Oral automatisms: Chewing, swallowing, lip-smacking

Verbal automatisms: Screaming, laughing, crying, repetitive speech

Manual automatisms: Picking at objects, fumbling, head rolling, patting, walking

After a complex partial seizure, individuals may feel fatigued, disoriented, and confused. While these after-effects typically do not last longer than 15 minutes, some patients may experience prolonged recovery times.

Aura

An aura is an early warning sign that a seizure is about to occur. It involves a range of sensory, emotional, or cognitive experiences that precede the actual seizure. Auras are considered focal aware seizures because the person remains conscious during this phase.

What does an aura look like?

Patients may experience unusual sensations like tingling, numbness, or changes in vision, smell, taste, or hearing. For instance, some might report seeing flashing lights or hearing buzzing sounds.

Auras can evoke strong emotions such as fear, anxiety, a sense of impending doom, or even euphoria.

They can also induce cognitive and/or perceptual changes, such as feelings of déjà vu or jamais vu, where familiar situations feel new or strange, respectively.

What does an Aura indicate?

Auras serve as a warning signal, allowing the individual time to find a safe place or inform others that a seizure is imminent. The nature of the aura can provide clues about the origin of the seizure in the brain, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Types of Auras

Visual Auras: Seeing bright lights or colours

Auditory Auras: Hearing unusual sounds

Olfactory Auras: Smelling unusual odours

Gustatory Auras: Tasting unusual flavour.

Somatosensory Auras: Feeling tingling or numbness in a specific part of the body

Causes and Triggers of Partial Seizures

Causes

The causes of partial seizures can vary, including:

Head trauma

Stroke

Brain infection

Tumors

Genetic factors

Triggers

Identifying triggers can help manage seizures more effectively. Common triggers for simple partial seizures include:

Exhaustion

Dehydration

Sleep deprivation

Skipping anti-seizure medication

Certain medications (e.g., antibiotics, painkillers)

Infections

Alcohol and caffeine consumption

PMS

Flashing lights

Triggers for complex partial seizures can include:

Fever

Flashing lights

Fatigue

Loud noises

Low blood sugar

Stress

Side effects of medications

Anger

Anxiety

Intensive physical activity

How to Manage Simple Partial Epilepsy

If you are a caregiver for someone with partial epilepsy, here’s how you can help during a simple partial seizure:

Remain calm and note the time the seizure starts

Stay with the person until the seizure ends

Place something soft under their head

Turn the person on their side to keep airways clear

Speak calmly after the seizure and offer reassurance

Ask simple questions to determine their lucidity, like their name or the date

What Not to Do

Do not hold the person down

Do not try to stop their movements

Do not put anything in their mouth

Do not give CPR

Do not offer food or water until they are fully alert

When to Call for Help

Call emergency services (102 or 108) if:

The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes

The patient is pregnant

The patient has more than one seizure

Diagnosis

Diagnosing partial seizures typically involves:

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Records electrical activity in the brain, identifying unusual patterns associated with seizures.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Detects abnormalities like scar tissue, structural problems, or tumors.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Provides detailed images of the brain’s structure, helping to locate abnormal activity.

Traditional Treatment Options

Depending on the frequency and symptoms of the partial seizures, doctors may prescribe:

Anti-seizure medications

Brain surgery

Low-level electrical charge devices

Comprehensive Care at Plexus

Plexus offers custom treatment plans based on your unique condition, age, frequency of seizures, as well as other health factors and comorbidities. Our aim is to facilitate overall improvement by making structured routines a part of the patient’s daily life. This can go a long way in helping them better manage their condition.

We have been able to effectively control seizures with the correct use of anti-epileptic drugs. However, in some cases, drugs do not help as much as we would like them to. Sometimes seizures still occur or some patients cannot tolerate some drugs. And this is why we offer other kinds of therapy for patients who are unable to benefit from medications and conventional treatments.

At the Plexus Epilepsy Clinic, we help you to -

Minimize your need for anti-seizure medications

Significantly improve your quality of life

Reduce associated costs of living with Epilepsy

Lower risk of complications and emergencies associated with seizures

Increase your chances of returning to work

Understanding the symptoms and triggers of simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures can aid in better managing these conditions. With the right treatment and support, individuals with partial epilepsy can lead fulfilling lives. If you or a loved one is experiencing seizures, please contact our Epilepsy Clinic to explore comprehensive treatment options.

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