Symptoms of Epilepsy

Partial or Focal Seizures

These seizures begin from just one part of the brain. Symptoms include:

• Tingling or numbness sensations in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
• Muscle twitching of one side of a limb, hand, finger, or muscle
• Experiencing smells, tastes, sights, sounds, or other sensations that are not real
• Unusual, repetitive, uncontrolled motions or movements, such as chewing movements or smacking of the lips

The term Jacksonian march implies that the symptoms spread from one part of the body to another. Focal onset seizures can become generalized. This means that they spread to both sides of the brain.

Generalized Convulsive (Grand Mal) Seizures

These seizures begin from both sides of the brain. Symptoms include:

• Unconsciousness
• Loss of urinary or bowel control
• Muscle spasms or stiffening of the muscles
• Drop attacks
• Unusual, repetitive, uncontrolled motions or movements
• Biting of tongue
• Prior to the convulsions:
  • Feeling of unusual warning, such as the smell of burning rubber
• After convulsions:
  • Deep sleep, drowsiness, confusion, or altered responsiveness
  • Awakening with headache
  • Awakening with no memory of the seizure

General Seizures Without Convulsions

One type of generalized seizure without convulsions are known as absence, also called petit mal, seizures. This type is more common in children. Symptoms include:

• Appearance of daydreaming
• Blinking of the eyes rhythmically
• Twitching of facial muscles
• No memory of the seizure after it occurs
• Very characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern

There are also other types of generalized seizures without convulsive activity.