All seizures are caused by abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain. Partial (focal) seizures occur when this electrical activity remains in a limited area of the brain. The seizures can sometimes turn into generalized seizures, which affect the whole brain. This is called secondary generalization.

Partial seizures can be divided into:

• Simple, not affecting awareness or memory
• Complex, affecting awareness or memory of events before, during, and immediately after the seizure, and affecting behavior

Focal seizure; Jacksonian seizure; Seizure - partial (focal); Temporal lobe seizure; Epilepsy - partial seizures

Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure in people 1 year and older. In people older than 65 who have blood vessel disease of the brain or brain tumors, partial seizures are very common.

People with complex partial seizures may or may not remember any or all of the symptoms or events during the seizure.

Depending on where in the brain the seizure starts, symptoms can include:

• Abnormal muscle contraction, such as abnormal head or limb movements
• Staring spells, sometimes with repetitive movements such as picking at clothes or lip smacking
• Eyes moving from side to side
• Abnormal sensations, such as numbness, tingling, crawling sensation (like ants crawling on the skin)
• Hallucinations, seeing, smelling, or sometimes hearing things that are not there
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Flushed face
• Dilated pupils
• Rapid heart rate/pulse

Other symptoms may include:

• Blackout spells, periods of time lost from memory
• Changes in vision
• Sensation of déjà vu (feeling like current place and time have been experienced before)
• Changes in mood or emotion
• Temporary inability to speak

Treatment for partial focal seizures includes medicines, changes in lifestyle for adults and children, such as activity and diet, and sometimes surgery. Your doctor can tell you more about these options.

Published Date : February 04, 2020
Published By : Amit M. Shelat, DO, FACP, FAAN, Attending Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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