Understanding Epilepsy: Symptoms And Seizure Types In Adults And Children

One of the most prevalent neurological conditions affecting both adults and children is epilepsy.

These seizures are manifestations of sudden, excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells.

Epilepsy symptoms in children and adults include muscle jerking, stiffness, abnormal limb posturing, brief loss of consciousness, weakness, anxiety, and staring.

Specific symptoms depend on the type of epilepsy, determined by the affected brain area and the events during the seizure.

Two broad categories of epileptic seizures are generalised seizures (absence, atonic, tonic-clonic, myoclonic) and partial or focal (simple and complex) seizures

Focal seizures may have warning signs called auras (flashes of light, deja vu, abdominal sensations, and hallucinations) before the seizure.

Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures: Distinguished by brief periods of unconsciousness and periods of intense gazing.

Atonic (also called drop attacks) is associated with sudden loss of muscle tone.

Myoclonic seizures: These seizures are characterised by rapid or abrupt jerking motions of a group of muscles.

Infantile spasms: Clusters of (repeated) jack knife movements by babies

Infantile spasms and absence seizures are seen in children.

Inputs By: Dr. Sayli Bidkar, consultant in paediatric neurology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai