Different Types of Epilepsy

The type of seizure that a person has normally classifies their type of epilepsy. The majority of seizures fall into two basic categories. There are both partial and general types of seizures. Partial seizures focus in one part of the brain, and could eventually spread throughout the brain and become a general seizure. Partial seizures can be categorized as either simple (elementary) or complex. General seizures involve the entire brain.

Tonic Clonic (formerly known as Grand Mal) is the most commonly know type of epilepsy. It is how the general public usually characterizes and stereotypes all cases of epilepsy. This type of epilepsy is when a person convulses and the entire body stiffens. The person falls to the ground, sometimes letting out a cry, and has a temporary loss of consciousness. Meanwhile, the body jerks and there may be drooling and or urination. After a few minutes, the person regains consciousness, but is extremely tired due to the constant contraction of muscles. Another type of general seizure is absences (formerly known as petit mal). This type of seizure can easily go unnoticed due to the subtle symptoms. The person may stare off into space, roll their eyes, or have small movements in the head or arms. When the person comes out of the seizure, they do not recall having had a seizure. "Typically, it lasts from 5 to 30 seconds-and has its onset without warning. A person may have as many as fifty or even a hundred a day-or as few as one or two a month"(8 sands). These are only a few types of epilepsy. There are "over 40 types of seizures" (www.epilepsy.org.uk). It is therefore useful to have certain tests to help doctors depict the type of epilepsy a person has.