Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWith Prior HistoryWithout Prior HistoryTypesSymptomsTreatmentManagementNext in Seizures GuideUnderstanding Seizures: What They Look Like and How to Respond
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With Prior History
Without Prior History
Types
Symptoms
Treatment
Management
Next in Seizures Guide
A seizure is an episode of disrupted or erratic electrical activity among the nerves in the brain. It can involve altered awareness and uncontrolled movement of the body. There are several different types of seizures. Sometimes a seizure is called aconvulsion.
If you haveepilepsy, this means that you are prone to having seizures. Sometimes a seizure can occur due to certain changes in the body, even when a person doesn’t have epilepsy.
This article describes the causes, types, and treatments of seizures that occur as part of epilepsy or without an underlying epilepsy condition.
Seizures in Those With Prior History
If you have had seizures in the past, you may have been diagnosed with epilepsy. Typically, epilepsy can be controlled with medication or interventional therapies. Epilepsy treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures,but it is usually not curable.
Epilepsy can occur due to structural or microscopic changes in thecerebral cortex(a part of the brain) that cause an instability of nerve activity in the brain.
Epilepsy that begins during infancy or childhood is usually due to developmental variations of the brain, metabolic disorders (inability to break down certain chemicals in the body),or neurodevelopmental syndromes (such asautismorcerebral palsy). Epilepsy that begins during adulthood usually occurs due to head trauma, stroke, or an infection of the brain.
What Are the Early Signs of Epilepsy?
Epilepsy
Seizures in Those Without Prior History
A seizure could be the first sign of epilepsy. However, some health conditions can cause a seizure, even in the absence of epilepsy. Generally, when a seizure is not associated with epilepsy, seizures will not occur again once the underlying cause is treated.
Causes of non-epileptic seizures include:
Some of these conditions,such as a stroke, might lead to epilepsy if they cause permanent damage to the brain. Other conditions, such as electrolyte abnormalities, might not cause recurrent seizures if the underlying cause is promptly treated.
It can be difficult to predict whether certain conditions that cause a first-time seizure will lead to epilepsy. For example, meningitis may lead to epilepsy, but it doesn’t always do so.
Certain factors increase the risk of recurrent seizures. These include having additional seizures a short time after the first, structural changes seen on brain imaging,electroencephalogram(EEG) changes, or an alteredneurological examination.Your neurologist will prescribe antiepileptic medication based on your likelihood of experiencing another seizure.
Seizures vs. EpilepsyA seizure is an individual event, and epilepsy is a medical condition that causes a person to have a predisposition to recurrent seizures. There are many causes of seizures. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures, but not every seizure is associated with epilepsy.
Seizures vs. Epilepsy
A seizure is an individual event, and epilepsy is a medical condition that causes a person to have a predisposition to recurrent seizures. There are many causes of seizures. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures, but not every seizure is associated with epilepsy.
Epilepsy vs. Seizure: Condition vs. Symptom
Seizure Types and Location in Brain
One of the major distinctions between different seizure types is where they begin in the brain. This is because the treatment options for seizures that begin on both sides of the brain are a little different than the treatment options for seizures that begin on one side of the brain.
Seizures that begin in one area of the brain are described as focal onset, while seizures that begin on both sides of the brain are described as generalized onset.Sometimes focal onset seizures can spread and become generalized seizures. This is described as focal onset with secondary generalization.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures begin in one area of the brain. This can be identified with an EEG study, and sometimes they may be identified with the help of brain imaging or with observation of the initial seizure symptoms.
Common areas for a focal seizure to begin include:
Generalized Seizures
Generalized onset seizures begin on both sides of the brain and are known for causing loss of awareness and loss of consciousness.
The common types of generalized onset seizures are:
Four Effects of Generalized SeizuresDescriptions of generalized seizures include:Tonic: Stiffened musclesAtonic: Relaxed musclesMyoclonic: Short jerks seen in parts of the bodyClonic: Shaking or jerking for a period of time in parts of the body
Four Effects of Generalized Seizures
Descriptions of generalized seizures include:Tonic: Stiffened musclesAtonic: Relaxed musclesMyoclonic: Short jerks seen in parts of the bodyClonic: Shaking or jerking for a period of time in parts of the body
Descriptions of generalized seizures include:
Secondarily Generalized Seizures
Often, focal seizures may progress to involve both sides of the brain, and the symptoms can appear as a generalizedtonic-clonic seizurerather than a focal seizure. This is because the generalization is often very quick and occurs before any symptoms of a focal seizure can be observed.
Status Epilepticus
A seizure that continues for several minutes at a time without stopping is described asstatus epilepticus.This is a dangerous type of seizure that can cause brain damage, in addition to the brain damage that has caused the seizure.
Certain situations may increase the risk of status epilepticus. These include medication-resistant epilepsy, metabolic problems, severe infections, illness, and organ failure. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment with intravenous (IV) antiepileptic drugs to stop the seizure as it is happening.
Common Types of Seizures in ChildrenChildhood seizures include:Infantile spasms cause sudden and brief jerking of the body.Febrile seizuresoccur with high fevers.Absence seizures cause staring spells.Epilepsy syndromes begin during childhood and are associated with developmental delay, multiple seizure types, and medication-resistant epilepsy.
Common Types of Seizures in Children
Childhood seizures include:Infantile spasms cause sudden and brief jerking of the body.Febrile seizuresoccur with high fevers.Absence seizures cause staring spells.Epilepsy syndromes begin during childhood and are associated with developmental delay, multiple seizure types, and medication-resistant epilepsy.
Childhood seizures include:
Recognizing Symptoms of Seizures in Others
Recognizing seizurescan be difficult if you have not seen them before, or if you don’t know that someone has epilepsy.
Common symptoms include:
Any of the symptoms above can indicate a seizure. However, there are other medical issues that may cause similar symptoms.
If you witnessed someonehaving episodes that could be a seizure, it’s important to call for medical help. The healthcare team will work quickly to rule out other possible health problems, such as a stroke, heart attack,vertigo, tics, or a psychiatric disorder. This can involve a physical examination, checking vital signs, and diagnostic testing.
Signs of a StrokeA seizure and a stroke can cause sudden, distressing symptoms. These medical conditions are not the same, and the treatment for a seizure differs from the treatment for a stroke.Signs of a stroke include:Weakness or sensory changes on one side of the face or bodyDifficulty communicating or understanding speechConfusionVision changesKeep in mind that you do not need to know the difference between a seizure and a stroke. If you or someone else is having any symptoms that could be a stroke or a seizure, seek emergency medical attention. The healthcare team will be able to identify the difference and initiate proper treatment.
Signs of a Stroke
A seizure and a stroke can cause sudden, distressing symptoms. These medical conditions are not the same, and the treatment for a seizure differs from the treatment for a stroke.Signs of a stroke include:Weakness or sensory changes on one side of the face or bodyDifficulty communicating or understanding speechConfusionVision changesKeep in mind that you do not need to know the difference between a seizure and a stroke. If you or someone else is having any symptoms that could be a stroke or a seizure, seek emergency medical attention. The healthcare team will be able to identify the difference and initiate proper treatment.
A seizure and a stroke can cause sudden, distressing symptoms. These medical conditions are not the same, and the treatment for a seizure differs from the treatment for a stroke.
Signs of a stroke include:
Keep in mind that you do not need to know the difference between a seizure and a stroke. If you or someone else is having any symptoms that could be a stroke or a seizure, seek emergency medical attention. The healthcare team will be able to identify the difference and initiate proper treatment.
Treatment for Seizures
Seizures can be treated with medication. They may also be treated with epilepsy surgery or a special diet. Additionally, lifestyle adjustments may help reduce the frequency of seizures for people who have epilepsy. Most of the time, medical intervention can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
The medications that are used to treat seizures are short-acting. Additionally, long-acting,antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)can prevent seizures from occurring when people have epilepsy.
Seizure treatments include:
Managing Repeat, Future Seizures
If you or your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, this is a predisposition to recurrent seizures. While living with epilepsy can be challenging, the condition can be managed with medication and lifestyle adjustments. Sometimes other interventions, such as epilepsy surgery, may be necessary.
In addition to managing seizures with treatment, you also need to understand how to stay safe in case you have a seizure.
After a seizure, it’s important that you get some rest and stay in a safe place. You may need to talk to your family or roommates so they will know what to do in case you have a seizure.
Issues to consider:
Coping With Epilepsy
Summary
Seizures are events that may involve involuntary movement or loss of consciousness, or both. The most common reason for seizures is epilepsy. However, sometimes a seizure can occur due to other circumstances, such as head trauma, drug overdose or withdrawal, or as a side effect of certain medications.
There are several different types of epilepsy-associated seizures that correspond to seizure activity beginning in different parts of the brain. If you or someone else has a seizure, it’s important to get medical attention.
People who are diagnosed with epilepsy might not need to get medical attention every time they have a seizure. But it’s important for anyone with epilepsy to be under the care of a neurologist, who will prescribe medication, as well as instructions for how to prevent a seizure and what to do in case a seizure occurs.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.Will you always have seizures?Epilepsy Foundation.Focal cortical dysplasia.Epilepsy Foundation.Metabolic causes of epilepsy.Sirven JI.Epilepsy: A spectrum disorder.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2015;5(9):a022848. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022848Rowland K, Carl Earl Lambert J.Evaluation after a first seizure in adults.AFP. 2022;105(5):507-513.Shellhaas RA.Seizure classification, etiology, and management.Handb Clin Neurol.2019;162:347-361. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64029-1.00017-5Lee SE, Koh S, Park JM, et al.ES-RED (Early Seizure Recurrence in the Emergency Department) calculator: A triage tool for seizure patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(13):3598. doi:10.3390/jcm11133598Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.World Health Organization.Epilepsy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of stroke.Johnson EL.Seizures and epilepsy.Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(2):309-324. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.002
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.Will you always have seizures?Epilepsy Foundation.Focal cortical dysplasia.Epilepsy Foundation.Metabolic causes of epilepsy.Sirven JI.Epilepsy: A spectrum disorder.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2015;5(9):a022848. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022848Rowland K, Carl Earl Lambert J.Evaluation after a first seizure in adults.AFP. 2022;105(5):507-513.Shellhaas RA.Seizure classification, etiology, and management.Handb Clin Neurol.2019;162:347-361. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64029-1.00017-5Lee SE, Koh S, Park JM, et al.ES-RED (Early Seizure Recurrence in the Emergency Department) calculator: A triage tool for seizure patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(13):3598. doi:10.3390/jcm11133598Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.World Health Organization.Epilepsy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of stroke.Johnson EL.Seizures and epilepsy.Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(2):309-324. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.002
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Epilepsy Foundation.Will you always have seizures?Epilepsy Foundation.Focal cortical dysplasia.Epilepsy Foundation.Metabolic causes of epilepsy.Sirven JI.Epilepsy: A spectrum disorder.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2015;5(9):a022848. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022848Rowland K, Carl Earl Lambert J.Evaluation after a first seizure in adults.AFP. 2022;105(5):507-513.Shellhaas RA.Seizure classification, etiology, and management.Handb Clin Neurol.2019;162:347-361. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64029-1.00017-5Lee SE, Koh S, Park JM, et al.ES-RED (Early Seizure Recurrence in the Emergency Department) calculator: A triage tool for seizure patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(13):3598. doi:10.3390/jcm11133598Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.World Health Organization.Epilepsy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of stroke.Johnson EL.Seizures and epilepsy.Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(2):309-324. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.002
Epilepsy Foundation.Will you always have seizures?
Epilepsy Foundation.Focal cortical dysplasia.
Epilepsy Foundation.Metabolic causes of epilepsy.
Sirven JI.Epilepsy: A spectrum disorder.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2015;5(9):a022848. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022848
Rowland K, Carl Earl Lambert J.Evaluation after a first seizure in adults.AFP. 2022;105(5):507-513.
Shellhaas RA.Seizure classification, etiology, and management.Handb Clin Neurol.2019;162:347-361. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64029-1.00017-5
Lee SE, Koh S, Park JM, et al.ES-RED (Early Seizure Recurrence in the Emergency Department) calculator: A triage tool for seizure patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(13):3598. doi:10.3390/jcm11133598
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.
World Health Organization.Epilepsy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of stroke.
Johnson EL.Seizures and epilepsy.Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(2):309-324. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.10.002
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