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Partial seizures

An epileptic seizure is the body and brain's response to sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A partial seizure is an epileptic seizure that begins in a distinct part of the brain.

There are three types of partial seizures:

  • Simple partial seizures briefly disrupt a person's speech, movement, vision, or sense of smell or taste but do not affect a person's level of consciousness.
  • Complex partial seizures alter a person's level of consciousness and make the person stare into space. The person may notice a strange smell, taste, or feeling (aura) at the beginning of a seizure.
  • Partial seizures with secondary generalization begin like simple and complex partial seizures but then spread (generalize) to the rest of the brain, leading to the more familiar type of epileptic seizures (tonic-clonic seizures) in which the person's muscles stiffen and jerk.

Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure in adults. They can often be controlled with medication or surgery.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology
Last Revised October 15, 2009

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 15, 2009
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