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Types & Characteristics

To understand epilepsy and seizures, familiarize yourself with the major types as well as epilepsy signs and symptoms. We’ve got basic information.

Epilepsy and Seizure Types
1. Overview of Epilepsy Types There are several types of epilepsy, each with different causes, symptoms and treatments. Learn about idiopathic epilepsy, symptomatic epilepsy, and other types.
2. Refractory Epilepsy If your doctor says you have refractory epilepsy, it means that medicine isn't bringing your seizures under control.
3. Photosensitive Epilepsy People with photosensitive epilepsy have seizures that are triggered by flashing lights; bold, contrasting visual patterns; or overexposure to video games.
4. Benign Rolandic Epilepsy Children with benign rolandic epilepsy have seizures that affect the face and sometimes the body. It almost always disappears by adolescence.
5. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe kind of epilepsy that starts in childhood.
6. Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, or JME, is a form of epilepsy that starts in childhood or adolescence. People with this disorder experience muscle twitching or jerking.
7. Abdominal Epilepsy Abdominal epilepsy is a condition in which seizure activity causes abdominal symptoms like pain and nausea. It’s so uncommon that some experts question whether it exists.
8. Absence Seizures Absence seizures (formerly called ''petit mal'' seizures) are caused by abnormal and intense electrical activity in the brain.
9. Temporal Lobe Seizures Temporal lobe, or psychomotor, seizures cause temporary changes in movement, sensation, or autonomic function (such as heart rate and salivation).
Epilepsy in Women and Children
1. Epilepsy and Women Women with epilepsy may notice they have more seizures around the time of their menstrual cycles.
2. Birth Control for Women With Epilepsy Any birth control that is safe for women, in general, is safe for women with epilepsy. However, having epilepsy -- and some treatments for the condition -- can make some forms of birth control less effective.
3. Epilepsy and Pregnancy Most women with epilepsy give birth to healthy babies. Working closely with your doctor can help minimize risks.
4. New Moms With Epilepsy New moms with epilepsy have unique concerns about their baby's safety. Here are tips for breastfeeding, bathing, carrying your baby, and more.
5. Epilepsy and Hormonal Changes A woman's hormone levels seem to play a role in epilepsy -- especially during puberty, ovulation, and menopause.
6. Seizures in Children Seizures in children may pass or be part of an epileptic disorder. Learn about types of seizures, their diagnosis, and the risks they pose to your child.
7. Epilepsy and Teens Coping with a teenager can be difficult for any parent, but teens with epilepsy pose additional problems. What if your teen won’t take their medicine? Will they be safe driving?

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