Partial (focal) seizure

Alternative names:

Jacksonian seizure; seizure - partial (focal); simple seizure

Symptoms:

• rhythmic muscle contraction/relaxation (clonic activity) -- common
  • affecting one side of the body
  • affecting one arm, leg, part of face, or other isolated area

• abnormal mouth behaviors
  • lip smacking
  • chewing/swallowing without cause
  • profuse salivation ("slobbering")

• abnormal head movements
  • forced turning of the head
  • forced turning of the eyes
  • usually in the direction opposite of the side where the lesion causing the seizure is located

• automatisms--purposeless complex movement (such as picking at clothes)
• abnormal sensations
  • numbness, tingling, crawling sensation, etc.
  • may occur in only one part of the body or may spread
  • may precede motor symptoms
  • sensory hallucinations (visual, hearing, touch, smells, etc.)

• abdominal pain or discomfort
• nausea
• sweating
• flushed face
• dilated pupils (eyes)
• rapid heart rate/pulse

Other symptoms:

• speeding arrests (i.e. seizures while driving)
• changes in vision, speech, thinking, awareness, personality
• sensation of deja vu
• changes in mood or emotion
• complex hallucinations, illusions

Note: The person is conscious during the seizure but may suffer loss of memory (amnesia) about the events surrounding the seizure.

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms presented, especially movement or sensation abnormalities without a loss of consciousness. The diagnosis of the cause may include a complete physical examination, including a detailed neuromuscular examination. Psychometric assessment may be useful.

• An EEG can show characteristic changes confirming a partial (focal) seizures, and may show the focus (the location of the cause).
• A Head CT or head MRI scan may show the location and extent of the lesion causing the symptom.