Absence Seizure (Petit Mal)

Also referred to as a “petit mal seizure” or “dialeptic seizure,” this type of seizure results in a momentary loss of consciousness. A person stops all movement and looks off into blank space when having an absence seizure. There might occasionally be some blinking.

Angelman Syndrome

Angelman syndrome is a neurological condition that is inherited. It results in a significant delay in development, learning difficulties, a lack of speech or almost no speech, difficulties with balance, an inability to coordinate voluntary movements, and occasionally seizures (therefore making it an uncommon form of epilepsy). Angelman Syndrome patients have joyful, outgoing personalities and regularly smile and laugh.

Atonic Seizures (Drop Attacks)

A seizure that frequently results in the patient falling and produces an abrupt loss of muscular tone, especially in the arms and legs.

Aura

A warning sign or early seizure symptom that the person experiences but that others cannot see. Auras can develop into focal or even generalized seizures, or they can just occur on their own.

Benign Familial Neonatal Seizures (BFNS)

Recurrent seizures in babies are the hallmark of the syndrome known as benign familial neonatal seizures (BFNS). The seizures normally stop around one to four months of life, starting around day three. Both sides of the brain may be affected by the seizures (generalized seizures) or just one (focal seizures). Grand mal seizures, also known as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, are common in babies with this illness. This kind of seizure affects the whole body, affecting both sides of the brain and resulting in seizures, muscle rigidity, and unconsciousness.

Clonic Seizure

Jerks that are rhythmic and repetitive, affecting one or more bodily parts.

Dacrystic Seizure

Focal or partial seizures when a person makes a crying sound. . They can appear to be grimacing as well. The person can’t stop the emotions from happening, and they are frequently forced, such as crying or laughing. Many people who have a gelastic seizure don’t feel happy or joyful. On the other hand, people might experience fear or a loss of control. Individuals might worry that they’ll laugh too much or at the wrong social moment. Usually, during these seizures, the individual experiencing them is conscious of their surroundings.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

A device for seizure control. After the device is surgically placed, an epilepsy specialist programs it at the outpatient clinic. a kind of treatment using neuromodulation. This means that by providing electrical stimulation to the brain regions implicated in seizures, DBS therapy aims to alter (modulate) the way brain cells or networks function. used in conjunction with drugs for seizures.

Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEEs)

DEEs are a diverse set of extremely rare and rare epileptic disorders that can directly impair cognition and behavior. They can present with seizures, behavioral problems, or abnormal EEG readings. These illnesses frequently worsen over time and are very treatment resistant. These syndromes include regression of developmental progress (epileptic encephalopathies) and impaired development (developmental encephalopathies).

Doose Syndrome/Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy (MAE)

Myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE), commonly referred to as Doose syndrome, is a type of epilepsy that typically manifests in early childhood, typically occurring between the ages of 1 and 5. It is characterized by generalized seizures. Children may have staring fits and drop attacks, which are occasionally connected to falls.

Dravet Syndrome

An uncommon, severe, lifelong form of epilepsy known as “Dravet syndrome” causes frequent and/or prolonged seizures in the first year of life. 80% of cases of what was once called as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI) contain a SCN1A gene mutation.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A diagnostic procedure that measures the electrical impulses in the cerebral cortex, or brain waves. This scan assists in the diagnosis of epilepsy.

Epilepsy Surgery

A neurosurgical technique that involves removing the epileptogenic zone in order to stop more seizures. effectively removing seizures in the vast majority of patients, contingent on the specific kind of epilepsy detected through EEG-video surveillance.

Epileptogenic Zone

The region of the brain responsible for the abnormal electrical signals that cause seizures.

Extratemporal Cortical Resection

A procedure to remove (resect) brain tissue that is the focal point of a seizure. “Extratemporal” refers to a location of the tissue that is not in the temporal lobe but rather in another part of the brain, usually the frontal lobe.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)

ID, developmental delays, anxiety, mental health problems, behavioral and learning difficulties, ADD/ADHD, ASD, hand-biting, poor eye contact, sensory impairments, and an elevated risk of aggression are all brought on by the hereditary syndrome known as FXS. Compared to roughly 8% of individuals with fragile X alone, over 20% of those with fragile X and autism experience seizures. Males have a variety of physical characteristics, such as prominent ears, a long face, soft skin, and enormous testicles.

Febrile Seizures

When they have a high fever, children from three months to five or six years old may experience seizures. These episodes, which are known as febrile seizures (pronounced FEB-rile), affect 2% to 5% of children worldwide (2 to 5 out of 100). They have a modest propensity to run in families. A child’s risk of developing febrile seizures is somewhat increased if their parents, siblings, or other close family members have experienced them. There are instances when the seizure occurs “out of the blue” before the child’s illness is diagnosed. In a youngster who was previously healthy, a fever may start quietly. A seizure may serve as the family’s first indication that their member is unwell.

Focal Impaired (Complex Partial)

Seizures accompanied by awareness impairment were formerly referred to as complicated partial seizures. For instance, the individual appears to be “staring into space” or “out of it.” Oftentimes, the seizure includes unintentional motions or other movements.

Focal Aware (Simple Partial)

Also referred to as a “partial seizure,” this type of seizure only affects a small portion of one hemisphere of the brain. Surgery is a more effective means of treating this kind of seizure than it is for generalized seizures.

Functional Hemispherectomy

A process when the corpus callosum is divided and parts of one hemisphere of the brain that is not working correctly are removed. This stops the spread of seizures by cutting off communication between the two hemispheres and among the different lobes.

Gelastic Seizure

The word “gelastic seizures” refers to focal or partial seizures accompanied by fits of uncontrollable laughing or giggling. A common term for them is laughing seizures. There’s a chance that the person is grinning or smirking.

Generalized Seizure

A seizure that occurs all through the brain.

Infantile Spasms

Includes quick (1-3 second) movements of the head, arms, and legs that are either extended or flexion (the arms and legs pull into the torso). Typically, spasms happen in clusters, with an incident happening every 5–10 seconds for a duration of 5–10 minutes. Clusters of spasms are usually observed multiple times a day, and they frequently occur soon after waking. During the cluster, infants frequently become agitated and may cry; occasionally, this causes colic to be misdiagnosed.

Jeavons Syndrome/Epilepsy with Eyelid Myoclonia

Jeavons syndrome, also called epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia, is more frequent in girls and usually begins between the ages of 2 and 14 (with most cases beginning between 6 and 8 years). Although the exact cause is unknown, a genetic predisposition (tendency) is probably involved. This syndrome is characterized by frequent, multiple daily seizures.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)

Genetics, brain abnormalities, or early brain injury from illness or trauma can all contribute to LGS. Some of the other epileptic disorders listed on this page may also be the reason! Children who are affected often have a variety of seizures, the most common being atonic, tonic, and atypical absence seizures.

Migrating Partial Epilepsy of Infancy

A severe kind of epilepsy that manifests extremely early in life is called malignant migrating partial seizures of infancy (MMPSI). Though they usually start within a few weeks after birth, recurrent seizures can start before the age of six months. Treatment for the seizures is not very effective. Affected people have significant developmental delays even though they may initially develop normally. When seizures start, advancement stops and skills deteriorate.

Myoclonic Seizure

A seizure that consists of sporadic jerks, usually on both sides of the body. Patients with these seizures may drop or involuntarily throw objects.

Nonepileptic Event

An event that resembles a seizure but is actually produced by another condition, such as Tourette syndrome or heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). Certain psychological conditions can also bring on a nonepileptic event.

Ohtahara Syndrome/Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy (EIEE) with Burst-Suppression

Ohtahara Syndrome is an uncommon disorder marked by difficult-to-control seizures and delayed growth. It mainly affects newborns in the form of epileptic seizures within the first three months of life, usually within the first ten days. Although focal seizures and, in rare cases, myoclonic seizures, infants typically suffer tonic seizures. The traditional cause of Ohtahara syndrome is extremely aberrant brain anatomy, which can result from injury or aberrant growth.

Responsive Neurostimulation Device (RNS)

RNS consists of a small neurostimulator implanted within the skull under the scalp. The neurostimulator is connected to one or two wires (called electrodes) that are placed where the seizures are suspected to originate within the brain or on the surface of the brain. The device detects abnormal electrical activity in the area and delivers electrical stimulation to normalize brain activity before seizure symptoms begin.

Rett Syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that manifests in hand stereotypies, seizures, lack of intentional activity, regression of gained motor abilities, and loss of acquired spoken language in infancy. The majority of people with epilepsy are in a certain clinical stage of the condition, and about one-third of cases have therapeutic resistance.

Sleep-Related Hypermotor Epilepsy

Marked by recurrent short-term hypermotor seizures during slumber. An individual may experience eight seizures on average in a single night. Sometimes misdiagnosed as a nightmare or night terror, the seizures can appear to be no more than a simple waking from sleep. More complex motions include twisting, rotating, pelvic thrusting, pedaling, grimacing, meandering, startling, and vocalizations like yelling, groaning, or sobbing can also be included. Occasionally, a person experiencing a seizure may be completely conscious despite their arms and legs moving erratically. During a seizure, some people experience the sense of being unable to breathe. These seizures typically last 30 seconds, though they can range anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

Status Epilepticus

A prolonged seizure (usually defined as lasting longer than 5 minutes) or a series of repeated seizures without regaining consciousness. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and medical help should be obtained immediately.

Temporal Lobe Resection

A surgical procedure in which brain tissue in the temporal lobe is cut away (resected) to remove the seizure focus.

Tonic Seizure

A seizure that is characterized by stiffening of the muscles, sustained for more than a few seconds.

Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal)

A seizure characterized by jerking, falling, stiffening, and losing consciousness. This is a classic example of a generalized motor seizure, sometimes known as a “grand mal seizure.”

Vagus Nerve

A little cranial nerve that travels through the neck and is linked to the stomach, heart, and lungs in addition to different parts of the brain.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

A surgical procedure for treating epilepsy that involves implanting an electrode on the vagus nerve in the neck. A pacemaker is inserted beneath the skin in the chest and is linked to the electrode. The VNS is typically set to cycle constantly, but if the patient senses a seizure coming on, they can activate the stimulator by placing a tiny magnet over the pacemaker.

West Syndrome/Infantile Spasms

West Syndrome is an uncommon medical disorder marked by epileptic spasms that usually start between the ages of three and twelve months, however they might start later. An identified underlying cause or causes may not always be present in infants, although one possible explanation is a structural brain defect. Every involuntary spasm normally starts abruptly, lasts only a few seconds, and usually happens in clusters that can last for more than ten to twenty minutes. It may be classified as a serious brain condition or epileptic encephalopathy.