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UPDATED: Mon, 02/12/2007 - 2:16pm
spiz
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures.......
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It has been said repeatedly that there are over 40 different types of seizures with more or less only the most 'popular' listed. Let's see if we can locate the ones that aren't. These types of seizures affect someone and I feel need to be noted. I'm curious to see how many can be located. Anyone interested in helping me find them, please list what you find here along with their description. Thank you! Take care and have a good day!
-Spiz
By spiz at Sat, 05/06/2006 - 7:47pm | 21809 views | 74 comments
Recent Comments on this Discussion
All of that information is so helpful, I was just sitting here trying to find more information on seizures and you guys have listed so much information. I think I found what I was looking for. THANKS EVERYONE
A form of reflex epilepsy, hot water epilepsy which is brought on by a bath in hot water. Most cases are found in India.
I have had gelastic seizures triggered by mirth so they sort of sit in the reflex epilepsy category in a way. They are fits of laughter I am unable to stop and rob me of the ability to breathe properly. At times just when I think one has stopped, another starts. It can get to the point where I then start to fall sideways to my left. If I get a bunch of them and do not give a signal to get help, I may not get enough oxygen at all. I am told it is one of the types you should call a medic for with transport because it can lead to death.
Some people just start laughing with nothing to bring them on so they aren't really a reflex. Some people drop during a fit of laughter so that is where the atonic drop comes into the picture.
Sometimes my gelastics are followed by dacrystic seizures.
Dacrystic seizures are crying fits. They too can be a reflex form of seizure but most of the people I have heard from about them say each time they just happen.
I am actually glad that they happen because they help to slow things down and get me breathing again. To sit in terror unable to breathe while you laugh your life away is absolutely NOT funny.
Musicogenic seizures usually occur as the result of hearing a particular tune, tone, or instrument. I have never done well with drums and avoid rock music and parts of certain symphonies etc.
Drawing can also start reflex seizures.I can't find my notes but somewhere recently in the journal Neurology I think, was a write up on a case of reflex epilepsy in the US due to drawing.
Les
Angelman Syndrome is a neurological genetic disorder that includes seizures/epilepsy.
Benign Adult Familial Myoclonic Epilepsy (BAFME) is a previously unrecognized myoclonic disorder.
Autosominal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy is a rare epileptic disorder that causes frequent violent seizures during sleep.
Hi Spiz
I just want to share this site possible one in here you dont have???
http://www.2betrhealth.com/SEIZURE%20TYPES.html
take care
Lisa
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsyapproach/
Todd's Paralysis Or Paresis :
Todd's paresis or Todd's paralysis (or postictal paresis/paralysis, "after seizure") is focal weakness in a part of the body after a seizure. This weakness typically affects appendages and is localized to either the left or right side of the body.
The condition is named after Robert Bentley Todd (1809-1860), an Irish-born London physiologist who first described the phenomenon in 1854.[1] It may occur in as many as 13% cases of seizures.[2] It is most common after generalised tonic-clonic seizures ("grand mal"), and may last for hours or occasionally days after the initial seizure. The generally postulated cause is the exhaustion of the primary motor cortex, although no conclusive evidence is available to support this.
Presentation
The classic presentation of Todd's paresis is a transient weakness of a hand, arm, or leg after partial seizure activity within that limb. The weakness may range in severity from mild to complete paralysis.
When seizures affect areas other than the motor cortex, other transient neurological deficits can take place. These include sensory changes if the sensory cortex is involved by the seizure, visual field defects if the occipital lobe is involved, and aphasia if speech, comprehension or conducting fibres are involved.
Todd's paresis, as defined as any motor deficit after seizure, occurs in 13% of all seizures.[2] This was evaluated in a study of 513 patients with epilepsy with video-electroencephalography. The same study also showed that the mean duration of postictal paresis was 173 seconds, with ranges of 11 seconds to 22 minutes.[2] There have been case reports of longer durations of paresis, ranging to as long as days.[3]
Other post-ictal neurological findings that do not involve activity of the area affected by the seizure have been described. They are thought to be caused by a different mechanism than Todd's paresis, and including paralysis of the contralateral limb,[4] and rare genetic causes of hemiplegia and seizures.[5]
Todd's paresis is more common after any clonic seizure activity, and particularly if generalized tonic-clonic seizures occur.[2]
Causes
The cause of Todd's paresis is unknown but there are two hypotheses to its cause. The first is the depletion theory, where the motor cortex is exhausted leading to prolonged neuronal hyperpolarization. The second is that there is transient inactivation of motor fibres caused by activation of NMDA receptors. Neither has been extensively evaluated.
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures
-Resetting the name and getting rid of the re:'s.
Emotional Seizure: A type of Simple Partial Seizure which manifests as exaggerated emotions without cause. Most common is fear, although joy, rage, anger or sadness may occur instead.
Generalized Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus (GEFS+) is a syndromic autosomal dominant disorder where afflicted individuals can exhibit numerous epilepsy phenotypes.
Here is some information on Simple Partial Seizures:
History: The ICES lists 18 categories of SPS. All types of SPS can be seen with subsequent complex partial secondarily generalized seizures. The suspicion of SPS is based on the history of typical, reproducible patterns as outlined here.
* Motor simple partial seizures
o Clonic discharges in the sensorimotor cortex cause jerky, rhythmic movements that may remain restricted to one body segment or spread by “jacksonian march.â€
o Benign focal epilepsy of childhood accounts for 15-25% of childhood epilepsy and eventually remits by age 16 years.
+ Typical seizures are simple and motor, affect the face or arm, and occur soon after falling asleep or awakening.
+ As it usually remits by age 16 years, this syndrome does not always require treatment.
o Another subtype, epilepsia partialis continua (ie, Kojewnikoff syndrome), includes stereotypical periodic to semiperiodic clonic activity that may persist for years and is often refractory to treatment.
+ Clonic jerking usually involves the thumb or great toe, and may or may not spread to other body parts.
+ This activity has been associated with stroke, tumor, trauma, hypoxia, Rasmussen encephalitis, syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke (MELAS), subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), and adult nonketotic hyperglycinemia.
o Tonic-supplementary motor area (SMA) and premotor region discharges produce sustained contractions and unusual postures of a limb.
+ In 72% of cases SMA seizures are not associated with impaired consciousness.
+ Versive-smooth or jerky, tonic contractions of head and eye muscles, usually on the side contralateral to the discharge, often are followed by a secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizure.
+ Phonatory activation of the primary or supplementary motor cortex produces vocalizations, speech arrest, or aphasia.
* Sensory simple partial seizures
o Somatosensory-primary sensory cortex seizures usually elicit positive or negative sensations contralateral to the discharge.
o Symptoms associated with seizures from the postcentral gyrus include tingling, numbness, pain, heat, cold, agnosia, phantom sensations, or sensations of movement.
o Abdominal pain usually originates from the temporal lobe, and genital pain from the mesial parietal sensory cortex.
o The posterior parietal cortex is the likely origin of limb agnosia.
o Supplemental sensory-secondary sensory cortex seizures may have ipsilateral or bilateral positive or negative sensations or vague axial or diffuse sensations.
o Visual-calcarine cortex discharges produce elemental hallucinations including scintillations, scotomata, colored lights, visual field deficits, or field inversion.
o The visual association cortex is the probable location of origin of complex visual hallucinations and photopsias.
o Auditory SPS from the auditory cortex typically are perceived as simple sounds, rather than words or music.
o Olfactory-uncinate seizures originate from the orbitofrontal cortex and the mesial temporal area. Perceived odors are usually unpleasant, often with a burning quality.
o Gustatory seizures usually are associated with temporal lobe origin, although the insula and parietal operculum also have been implicated. Perceived tastes are typically unpleasant, often with a metallic component.
o Vestibular seizures originate from various areas, including frontal and temporal-parietal-occipital junction. Symptoms include vertigo, a tilting sensation, and vague dizziness.
o Psychic SPS arise predominantly from the temporal and limbic region, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and parahippocampal gyrus. Perceptual hallucinations or illusions are usually complex, visual or auditory, and are rarely bimodal.
+ Includes the déj� vu and jamais vu phenomena
+ Emotional: Fear is usual, but SPS can elicit happiness, sexual arousal, anger, and similar responses.
+ Cognitive: These responses include feelings of depersonalization, unreality, forced thinking, or feelings that may defy description.
* Autonomic simple partial seizures
o Abdominal sensation phenomena
+ These are common in mesial temporal epilepsy but can arise from the operculum and occipital region.
+ Symptoms include nausea, pain, hunger, warmth, and “epigastric rising†sensations, and may be associated with piloerection (ie, gooseflesh).
o Cardiovascular sensations
+ The most common cardiac manifestation of any seizure is sinus tachycardia with arrhythmias, with bradycardia occurring infrequently.
+ Some patients have chest pain or a sensation of palpitation that mimics cardiac disease.
+ Respiratory inhibition has been reported with electrical stimulation of the temporal regions.
o Pupillary symptoms - Miosis, mydriasis, hippus, and unilateral pupillary dilatation
o Urogenital symptoms
+ Seizures from the superior portion of the posterior central gyrus can result in genital sensations, while sexual auras arise more from the limbic or temporal regions.
+ Ictal orgasms have been reported, although rarely, in association with seizures arising from various cerebral locations.
o Other autonomic symptoms - Rarely perspiration, lacrimation, ictal enuresis, or flushing
* Postictal neurological deficits can occur after an SPS as a negative manifestation of the function affected by the seizure (eg, Todd paralysis).
Physical: The physical examination may show subtle or obvious neurological focality.
* Immediately following a SPS, the focality may become more pronounced owing to postictal inhibition (eg, Todd paralysis).
* If an examination is performed during a SPS, no impairment of awareness or responsiveness is observed.
o Preservation of awareness implies that a person is able to recount simple events that happen during the ictus. This is best established by giving a specific, uncommon 2-syllable word to the patient during the SPS and asking for its recall soon after the seizure has resolved.
o Preservation of responsiveness implies that a person is able to carry out simple commands or directed volitional actions.
o Responsiveness may appear to be impaired because of interference by the motor manifestations of the SPS.
o This is best established by asking the patient to perform simple, unilateral and bilateral neurological functions during the SPS.
o If the patient is unable to perform a task because of the manifestations of the SPS, recollection of the instructions implies responsiveness was preserved.
* Motor, sensory, special sensory, psychic, and autonomic manifestations may begin in a small anatomical area and spread to a larger area of the body. This has been termed as “jacksonian march,†and it typically progresses along contiguous parts of the body in a reproducible pattern.
Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Sturge-Weber Syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder that includes seizures, which may be intractable...
Hi Spiz
Here is a web site and support group that may be able to help you with your task.
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/seizures/glossary.htm
http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesl/a/lafora05.ht...
Rare Epilepsy Syndromes Support Group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RareEpilepsySyndromes/?...
Possible I gave you some of these before.
good work
lisa
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsyapproach/
Lisa,
Thank you for the sites! You had given me the support group one a long time ago so thank you for that one too. Thank you for the help! :)
-Spiz
You are so welcome. I am curious to see how many you come up with at the end.
take care
Lisa
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsyapproach/
Although rare, Pyridoxine-Dependent Seizure (PDS) is a recognized cause of intractable seizures....
Wow, Spiz! This is absolutely fascinating! Who knew that there were so many different types of seizures?!
It makes one think though: How many people with Epilepsy are actually incorrectly diagnosed with having the wrong type of seizure?
Good luck with your search! :) It would be great if we could get all of these definitions and more information on the www.epilepsy.com website! :)
Parietal lobe seizures.
Like occipital lobe seizures, parietal lobe seizures can be divided into subjective and objective manifestations. Although there are certain symptoms and possibly some signs that help identify parietal lobe origin, much of the parietal lobe is silent with respect to clinical seizure manifestations. In addition, some aspects of seizure-induced parietal lobe dysfunction might not be apparent without specific testing, ie, testing of various cortical somatosensory functions.
An example of this is found in the classic monograph Epilepsy and the Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain (Penfield and Jasper 1954): Patient J. St. had a seizure limited to the parietal lobe recorded during corticography under local anesthesia. Two-point discrimination was impaired during the seizure but returned to normal after the seizure. Such a serendipitous observation would rarely be possible. It would also require that the seizure remain limited to the parietal lobe, which is often not the case.
Subjective manifestations.
Paresthesias. Paresthesias are usually contralateral to the side of seizure onset (Williamson et al 1987; 1992b; Cascino et al 1993; Ho et al 1994; Salanova et al 1995). They consist of localized numbness or a "pins and needles" sensation. Unpleasant crawling sensations have also been described. When localized at onset, they may remain localized or they may exhibit a march similar to focal clonic motor seizures (Jacksonian march). Ipsilateral or bilateral paresthesias suggest involvement of secondary parietal sensory systems (Williamson et al 1992b). Contralateral paresthesias are the most common subjective manifestation of parietal lobe seizure origin, but they probably occur in less than half of the patients with this type of seizure disorder.
Ictal pain. Ictal pain is rare, and when it occurs in isolation misdiagnosis is common (Siegel et al 1999). A recent study of ictal pain found that it is usually a sign of parietal lobe seizure origin (Siegel et al 1999). The pain usually consists of a burning, unpleasant dysesthesia with lateralization and distribution characteristics similar to those described for paresthesias. Severe, cramping, lateralized abdominal pain recently has also been equated with parietal lobe seizure origin (Siegel et al 1999). Head pain may also be associated with parietal lobe seizure origin, but this needs additional verification.
Visual distortions. A distortion of objects or body parts is a rare seizure symptom of presumed parietal lobe origin, but this has yet to be documented.
Alien hand (La main etrangere). The sensation that a body part, usually a hand, does not belong to the person is another rare parietal lobe seizure symptom (Leiguarda et al 1993). This has been documented with intracranial recording and successful surgery (Siegel et al 1999).
Vertigo. True vertigo is reportedly due to seizure activity in the temporo-parietal junction. Although a well-established seizure symptom, epileptic vertigo is rare, and the exact neocortical representation has not been documented with precision (Fried et al 1995).
Gustatory hallucinations. Gustatory hallucinations are well-described seizure symptoms, but their localizing significance is not precise. They can be elicited by stimulating the anterior temporal structures, the parietal operculum, and the anterior insula (Hausser-Hauw and Bancaud 1987).
Sensations of movement. During vertiginous seizures, the environment may appear to move. In addition, the sensation of body part movement without observable movement has been reported as a symptom of parietal lobe seizure activity (Penfield and Jasper 1954).
Disorders of reading and language. The wide variety of reading, writing, and speech disorders associated with structural damage of the language-dominant parietal lobe might occur transiently as ictal symptoms during limited parietal lobe seizures but, other than nonspecific dysphasic disorders, these have not been selectively demonstrated.
Objective disorders. The parietal lobes are generally associated with processing sensory information and, as such, would not be expected to produce much in the form of objective ictal behavior (Williamson et al 1992b; Akimura et al 2003). Exceptions might be demonstrable disorders of language mentioned previously or curious reactions to unpleasant stimuli, such as severe pain. Inhibitory motor or paralytic seizures can be associated with parietal lobe seizure origin (Siegel et al 1999).
Signs and symptoms of seizure propagation. Posterior propagation from the parietal lobe can result in a patient experiencing elementary visual hallucinations or ictal amaurosis (Williamson 1987). Anterior spread can produce focal clonic motor activity. Asymmetrical tonic motor activity is often seen with seizures of parietal lobe origin during which there is intracranial recording evidence for and against spread to the supplementary motor area (Geier et al 1977; Williamson et al 1992b; Siegel et al 1999). Inhibitory or hemiplegic seizures may occur, but it is not known whether this represents spread beyond the parietal lobe (Siegel et al 1999). Inferior spread into the temporal lobe has been well documented with intracranial recording (Williamson et al 1992b). It has been suggested that posterior parietal lobe seizure origin is most often associated with spread to the temporal lobes, producing "psychoparetic" seizures (Ho et al 1994). Parietal lobe seizures resembling panic attacks probably also reflect temporal lobe seizure spread (Alemayehu et al 1995; Sazgar et al 2003).
EEG findings. Early studies used localized spikes and sharp waves to define various types of focal seizures. Although this might be applicable for some posterior neocortical seizures, studies using videotape technology show that scalp EEG studies contain considerable false and misleading information (Williamson et al 1992a; 1992b).
LOCALIZATION
http://www.ilae-epilepsy.org/visitors/centre/ctf/posterior_n...
"Many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1
I hadn't seen this before Spiz.. interesting task! Defining lots of terms! Would be interesting to split the terms into seizure types, syndromes, causes or other neurological problems that seizures are associated with ... I find that many times people get confused this way. If people are interested in continuing this task or helping with other definitions, I can look into how we can do this more easily.
Let me know your interest!
Epi_help
Epi_help,
Good idea and a challenge! Count me in. Take care!
-Spiz
Here's a new one:
'Bedge Seizure'
Generally caused by too much peroxide in hair follicles. Sometimes confused with clinical symptoms of being a 'typical blonde'. Most patients reported in (although not refined to) Sydney, Australia regions. Patients will display a general fondness of avocados, dogs, drinking red wine and waking up at 10am each morning. Complete blind sightedness is required for treatment, and treating Neuros must assume that patient is having 'dizzy spells'. Mis-diagnosis must be pre existing for 7 years. Further research is being made in to treatments.
------------------------------
Peace, Love, Mung Beans
Wow!!!! Bedge Seizure has also been reported to have happened in the Southern California Beach areas.
And also in the Desert regions too!
I may have missed this on the list but there is also Panayiotopoulos syndrome, also called benigh occipital childhood epilepsy.
Thank you ekoorb!-
-Spiz
My child was diagnosed with this type of epilepsy. I don't see it mentioned too much on this site. Thanks for the information. I have the book published by Dr. Pan... I also have found some good articles. Any other parents out there with similar diagnosis for your child?
ekoorb,
I've come across some I've never heard of and some rare ones such as the one you posted. If the book you have mentions any other rare type, please post it. Smiles!
-Spiz
Parietal Lobe Seizures:
http://www.answers.com/parietal%20lobe%20seizures
This was a hard one to find. If anyone has anymore info on this one..please post.
-Spiz
Hi Spiz
Still working on the 40 seizures.
Well here is more info.
Simple Partial Seizures
The difference between complex partial and simple partial seizures is that, during simple partial seizures, the person remains conscious and fully aware. However this does not mean that the person experiencing this type of seizure is able to stop or control the symptoms.
The electrical activity which causes a simple partial seizure is confined to one small part of the brain. What a person experiences during one of these seizures depends on which part of the brain is affected.
The temporal lobe
The frontal lobe
The parietal lobe
The occipital lobe
What to do
Secondary generalisation
The temporal lobe
If a simple seizure originates in the temporal lobe, quite a wide variety of symptoms can occur. This is because the functions of the temporal lobe are quite varied. As with all types of epilepsy, each person is different and straightforward comparisons are not always possible.
Usually, someone having a simple partial seizure originating in the temporal lobe will experience an intense feeling, for example, sudden fear or happiness. They may have an extremely vivid memory flashback or strong sense of déja vu. Unpleasant smells or tastes and an unpleasant sensation in the stomach are also possible symptoms.
These symptoms are often called an ‘aura’ and can act as a warning for people with complex partial seizures. During simple partial seizures, the person remains fully conscious and the seizure is usually very brief. Often it is only the intensity and suddenness of these feelings that differentiates between someone having a usual déja vu experience, for example, and someone having a simple partial seizure.
The frontal lobe
If a seizure originates in the frontal lobe, the person will experience a totally different set of symptoms. Because this area of the brain deals primarily with movement, the symptoms are sometimes called ‘motor seizures’.
The person may feel their head drawn to one side. Sometimes their arm or hand becomes stiff and is drawn upwards. Some people then experience some jerking movements in that limb. If this symptom spreads to other parts of the body it may be what is called a ‘Jacksonian’ seizure, a very rare type of seizure named after British neurologist, Hughlings Jackson. Sometimes this can spread to the rest of the brain and become a tonic-clonic seizure.
If a person’s head is drawn to the left or it is the left hand or arm affected by the seizure, this means that the epileptic activity is occurring in the right frontal lobe and vice versa. Because this lobe also controls part of our speech, some people experience ‘speech arrest’, resulting in an inability to talk or not being able to be understood.
After this type of seizure, which again is usually only brief, the person can experience a short period of weakness. In rare instances people can be briefly paralysed and this is known as ‘Todd’s paralysis’.
The parietal lobe
The parietal lobe deals with our bodily sensations and simple partial seizures beginning in this part of the brain cause strange physical sensations. A tingling or warmth down one side of the body is typical. Because the parietal lobe is closely associated with the frontal lobe, people sometimes experience movement too. Known as ‘sensory seizures’ the after effect can be a period of numbness which wears off after a while.
The occipital lobe
The fourth area of the brain which can be the source of a simple partial seizure is the occipital lobe, responsible for our vision. It follows, therefore, that the symptoms of these seizures are to do with the way we see things. Flashing lights, balls of light or strange colours are typical symptoms, affecting half of the vision. Again, this occurs in the opposite side of the body to the lobe where the seizure originates.
The brain is a very complicated mechanism, and it is not always as simple as it seems to decide which area of the brain is the origin of someone’s seizures.
What to do
Because people experiencing simple partial seizures remain conscious, they can find the experience distressing or upsetting. Children, particularly, can be worried about what is happening to them.
As with all seizures, it is important not to restrain the person, but reassurance that all will soon be well can be very important. They can hear you and respond to you. Stay with the person and remember that they may need a period to fully recover. If the person has not had this experience before they should make an appointment with their doctor.
Secondary generalisation
Sometimes, the activity that starts a simple partial seizure can spread to the whole brain and result in a tonic-clonic seizure. This is known as a secondary generalised seizure.
Often the person will experience the simple partial seizure as an ‘aura’ or warning, but sometimes the spread of epileptic activity can be so quick that the person appears to move straight into a tonic-clonic seizure. This can cause problems with diagnosis, until the necessary scans are done and the specialist can see where the activity first occurs.
Further information on these seizure types is available from Epilepsy Action by using the Email Helpline or if you live in the UK, by phoning the Freephone Helpline on 0808 800 5050.
Epilepsy helpline
0808 800 5050 (UK)
helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
Take care
Lisa
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsyapproach/
hello,
dont know if I am on right area to write this or not, but am willing to try anything... this is my story, and I will make it as short as I can....
Back in the last part of March 07, I started to have spells... which would include total weakness of body, slurred speech, a little numbness in face,,, and a few more things,.. Well, I was put into hosp, cuz docs thought I was haveing mini-strokes.... after all the tests that they could do on heart all showed up normal except my MRI... it did show a small white abnormal area on frontal lobe...
Anyway, since all my heart tests showed normal they are now leaning on seizures... which is hard for me to believe.... I am in my late 40's, no family history or anything... I had one EEG done while in hosp. and it showed a little bit of activity on left side of brain... now they want to do an ambulatory EEG on me for 72 hrs...
They have put me on Tegretol, 600mg a day, but does not seem to be helping me too much.... I have had 12 spells in last 20 days. I had a bad spell Saturday, and afterwards this weird feeling I always have before I have one, hung on... well it hung on from that spell to yesterday (which was Thurs) when I had another one,.
What I need to know, if you or anyone else can help me, is this.... can you tell me,,... if I am having seizures, then what kind are they?
I can tell when I am fixing to have one... ahead of time... like an aura.
My symptoms once again are:
total weakness (usually have to find place to sit pretty quick)
usually happen while i am active (work)
speech real slurred
absolute terrifying
sometimes numbness in face or other places
so weak, cannot hold anything
know ahead of time, that I am going to have a spell
heavy hard breathing
I KNOW THESE SPELLS OR EPISODES ARE NOT PANIC ATTACKS.
I've heard aura's are pretty commom with seizures. I've read people have the same type of seizure symptoms with a certain pattern. You said it was terrifying and that may sound like a panic attack but others with seizures have this aura feeling of complete doom coming on. The 72 hr EEG might possibly give you more answers.
The above also includes info on Parietal Lobe Epilepsy.
Panayiotopaulos Syndrome - characterized mainly by ictal vomiting, head and eye deviation, and sometimes prolonged periods of loss of awareness. In Panayiotopoulos syndrome, seizures comprise an unusual constellation of autonomic, mainly emetic, symptoms often with unilateral deviation of eyes and other more conventional symptoms. Seizures are nocturnal in about two thirds of patients. The full emetic triad (ie, nausea, retching, vomiting) culminates in vomiting in 74% of seizures. Other autonomic symptoms may occur, including pallor, sweating, flushing, cyanosis, mydriasis, miosis, hypersalivation, bladder or bowel incontinence, abnormal intestinal motility, and cardiorespiratory and thermoregulatory alterations. Brief apnea and irregular or heavy breathing is reported to occur in 7% of cases. Ictal cardiorespiratory arrest has also been reported. Headache and cephalic auras that may be autonomic manifestations may occur, particularly at onset.
More conventional symptoms may follow, including confusion or unresponsiveness, eyes and head deviation to one side (60-98%), wide opening of eyes without deviation, speech arrest, hemifacial spasms, and visual symptoms or hallucinations (6-9%). The seizures may end with hemiconvulsions, often with jacksonian march (19%) or generalized convulsions (21%). Ictal syncope has been reported to occur in one fifth of cases.
Typically, the seizures are infrequent but long; 44% have seizures lasting 30 minutes or more, consisting of autonomic status epilepticus. Hemiconvulsive or generalized convulsive status epilepticus is rare (2%). One third of patients have a single seizure only. About half have 2-5 seizures. Only 5% have more than 10 seizures.
In late-onset childhood epilepsy with occipital spikes (Gastaut type), clinical semiology is complex and is characterized by ictal and postictal symptoms. Visual symptoms include (1) transient, partial, or complete loss of vision, (2) elementary or complex visual hallucinations, and (3) visual illusions (eg, micropsia, metamorphosis). Elementary visual hallucinations are the commonest and most characteristic ictal symptoms. These consist of small multicolored circular patterns that often appear in the periphery of a visual field, becoming larger and multiplying in the course of the seizure. Nonvisual ictal symptoms include adversive (versive) seizure manifested as tonic deviation of head and eyes. These are the most common of the ictal motor phenomena.
Other motor seizures include (1) hemiclonic convulsions, (2) complex partial seizures with automatisms, and (3) generalized clonic seizures. Other ictal manifestations include dysphasia and dysesthesia. Seizures are commonly diurnal and usually frequent. They are typically short, lasting seconds to less than 3 minutes. Other symptoms include postictal, diffuse, throbbing headache in about half of the patients and vomiting in about 10%. Ictal headache, mainly orbital, is rare.
The interictal EEG in Panayiotopoulos syndrome commonly reveals functional, mainly multifocal, high-amplitude sharp and slow wave complexes, with great variability at various electrode locations. All brain regions are involved, although the posterior predominate. About one third of patients never show occipital spikes.
Absence Seizures
Atypical Absence Seizures
Atonic Seizures
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
Childhood Absence Epilepsy
Clonic Seizures
Complex Partial Seizures
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Febrile Seizures
Hypothalamic Hamartoma
Infantile Spasms
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Juvenile Absesnce Epilepsy
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME)
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
Myoclonic Seizures
Mitochondrial Disorders
Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsies
Psychogenic Seizures
Reflex Epilepsies
Rasmussen's Syndrome
Simple Partial Epilepsy
Secondarily Generalized Seizures
Tonic Seizures
Tonic-clonic Seizures
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Hi...
there are also "Eating seizures".
Doose Syndrome
and don't forget that many individuals who have been diagnosed with autism also are challenged with epilepsy.
Such a daunting task you've taken on! Keep up the great work!
Sandi,
I think I covered some of the different reflex seizures on the Part 11 thread which included eating seizures, but I'll check and make sure. I have Doose Syndrome on my list to put on there also, but if you think of or see any types of seizures, epilepsies, or syndromes - please let me know or add them please! Thank you so much!
-Spiz
Barbara in Houston
I inherited generalized, after taking TOPAMAX i was then diagnosed w/ juvinile myclonus...at age 48.
Hi spiz,
This is winnie I had a episode on the weekend. I yelled and screamed and just starting hitting and kicking hubby and everything. I don't remember alot on what I was doing. I heard about your findings for different kinds of seizures. I was wondering if I have developed these psychogenic seizures. I don't know but I would like to know if it would hurt to ask the doctor.
From Winnie
Winnie,
If I were you I would. It could be a severe anxiety/panic attack. Either way, you need to have it checked out. Write down what you remember of the event and anything that may have triggered it. Since emotions play in either, be sure to note your emotional state of mind before and during the episode. Good luck and let us know what you find out. Take care!
-Spiz
Musicogenic epilepsy
Psychomotor seizures
Limbic seizures
Partial-onset
Generalized-Onset
Status Epilepticus Aka: SE, Generalized Tonic-Clonic SE(GTCSE), Nonconvulsive SE(NCSE), Recurrent Unprovoked Seizures, and Prolonged Seizures
Petit Mal Seizures
Simple Febrile Seizures
Complex Febrile Seizures
Symptomatic Febrile Seizures
Abdominal Seizures
Akinetic Seizures
Aura
Autonomic Seizures
Bilateral Myoclonus Seizures
Catamenial Seizures
Drop Seizures -aka- atonic seizures
Emotional Seizures
Focal Seizures
Gelastic Seizures
Grand mal Seizures
Jacksonian Seizures
Laflora Disease
Motor Seizures
Multi-focal Seizures
Neonatal Seizures
Nocturnal Seizures
Photosensative Seizures
Pseudo Seizures
Rolandic Seizures
Sensory Seizures
Subtle Seizures
Sylvan Seizures
Visual Seizures
Withdrawal Seizures
Absence Seizures : Absence seizures are brief episodes of staring.During the seizure, awareness and responsiveness are impaired. People who have them usually don't realize when they've had one. There is no warning before a seizure, and the person is completely alert immediately afterward...
Absence SE : Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus... On clinical presentation, a clear change in the level of consciousness is observed. Most patients are not comatose but lethargic and confused, with decreased spontaneity and slow speech...
Akinetic Seizure (AKA Atonic or Drop seizure): Muscles suddenly lose strength. The eyelids may droop, the head may nod, and the person may drop things and often falls to the ground. These seizures are also called "drop attacks" or "drop seizures." The person usually remains conscious.
Another name for this type of seizure is "akinetic" (a-kin-ET-ik), which means "without movement."
Asymmetrical Tonic Motor Seizures (e.g. Supplementary Motor Seizures):Typically involve unilateral or asymmetric bilateral tonic posturing; may be associated with facial grimacing, vocalization, or speech arrest; seizures frequently preceded by a somatosensory aura; complex automatisms such as kicking, laughing, or pelvic thrusting may be present; responsiveness often preserved.
Atonic Seizure :Muscle "tone" is the muscle's normal tension. "Atonic" (a-TON-ik) means "without tone," so in an atonic seizure, Atonic seizureAn epileptic seizure characterized by sudden loss of muscle tone; may cause the head to drop suddenly, objects to fall from the hands, or the legs to lose strength, with falling and potential injury; usually not associated with loss of consciousness.Close muscles suddenly lose strength. The eyelids may droop, the head may nod, and the person may drop things and often falls to the ground. These seizures are also called "drop attacks" or "drop seizures." The person usually remains conscious.
Another name for this type of seizure is "akinetic" (a-kin-ET-ik), which means "without movement."
Atypical Absence Seizures : The person will stare (as they would in any absence seizure) but often is somewhat responsive. Eye blinking or slight jerking movements of the lips may occur...
Over 40 different Types of Seizures
Aura : They are a common feature of simple partial seizures and usually precede complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin...
Aura Continua: Prolonged episodes of sensory symptoms similar or identical to a seizure aura lasting hours to days.
Autonomic Seizures (Simple Partial): Symptoms include nausea, pain, hunger, warmth, and “epigastric rising†sensations, and may be associated with piloerection (ie, gooseflesh)...
Benign Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy:
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy :A typical attack involves twitching, numbness, or tingling of the child's face or tongue (a partial seizure), which often interferes with speech and may cause drooling...
Benign Familial Neonatal Seizures : Benign neonatal convulsions are defined as seizures with onset after birth through day 28 in an otherwise healthy child with no other known medical or neurological problems. Such cases may be familial or isolated...
Benign Familial and Nonfamilial Seizures:
Benign Childhood Epilepsy
Bilateral Myoclonus Seizures:
Cataleptic Seizures:
Catamenial Seizures:
Childhood Absence Seizures:
Clonic Seizures:
Clonic SE:
Complex Absence Seizures:
Complex Partial Seizures:
Dravet Syndrome:
Drop Seizures:
Early Myoclonic Encephalopathy:
Eyelid Myoclonia:
Emotional Seizures:
Epilepsy Syndromes:
Epilepsia Partialis Continua of Kojevnikov:
Febrile Seizures:
*Simple
*Complex
*Symptomatic
Focal Seizures:
Frontal Lobe Seizures:
Generalized Tonic-Clonic SE:
Gelastic Seizures:
Generalized Onset Seizures:
Grand Mal Seizures (Tonic-Clonic):
Hemiconvulsive Status with Hemiparesis:
HH Syndrome:
Hemiclonic Seizures:
Hypothalamic Seizures:
Hypothalamic Hamartoma:
Infantile Spasms:
Inhibitory Motor Seizures:
Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy:
Jacksonian Seizures:
Janz Syndrome:
Juvenile Absence Epilepsy:
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: