A seizure may be classified based on its clinical features.
Features used to clinical classify a seizure:
(1) localized vs generalized
(2) change in consciousness
(3) motor abnormalities
A partial seizure is one that starts in one lobe. It may stay localized to the lobe of origin or may spread to other parts of the brain (secondary generalization).
|
Localization for Partial Seizure |
Clinical Features Associated with Onset |
|
frontal lobe |
deviation of head or eyes, unilateral clonic activity, unilateral tonic posturing, speech arrest |
|
temporal lobe |
aura (abdominal rising, weird feeling, sudden taste or smell, etc), lip smacking, staring, nonpurposeful movements of hands (automatism) |
|
parietal lobe |
contralateral paresthesias |
|
occipital |
visual phenomenon |
|
Classification of Partial Seizure |
Consciousness |
|
simple |
not impaired |
|
complex |
impaired consciousness (confusion, etc.) |
A generalized seizure (one that involves the entire body) may occur:
(1) from the start, with no signs of partial seizure (primary)
(2) after signs of a partial seizure (secondary)
|
Type of Generalized Seizure |
Clinical Features |
|
tonic-clonic (grand mal) |
initial tonic phase (generalized stiffening of limbs) followed by clonic phase (rhythmic jerking of limbs) |
|
clonic |
rhythmic jerking of body |
|
myoclonic |
quick muscle jerks |
|
tonic |
generalized stiffening of the limbs |
|
atonic |
loss of postural tone |
|
absence, simple |
alteration in consciousness (diagnosis requires characteristic EEG pattern) |
|
absence, complex |
alteration in consciousness with other manifestation (urinary incontinence, clonic, tonic, atonic, automatism) |
Specialty: Neurology
ICD-10: ,
