Seizure Disorders

Seizure disorders, or convulsions, are the most common neurological condition of childhood. Seizures are the outwardly visible sign of an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain, which, depending on the type, are associated with various degrees of loss of consciousness and/or involuntary motor activity. Seizure disorders are usually placed in one of three broad classifications (partial, generalized, or unclassified), with more specific categories described within each classification.

Partial seizures typically involve a more limited number of nerve cells in the brain than generalized seizures and account for up to 40% of the seizures diagnosed. Partial seizure disorders are classified into three types, which refer to the degree of consciousness involved:

• 1.
  Simple partial
• 2.
  Complex partial
• 3.
  Partial with secondary generalization

Simple partial seizures typically do not impair consciousness, but ...