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Types of Epilepsy

Types of Epilepsy

Generalized Epilepsy

Partial Epilepsy

Idiopathic (genetic causes)
Symptomatic (cause unknown) or cryptogenic (cause unknown)

  • Often a family history history of epilepsy

  • Tends to appear in childhood or adolescence

  • No nervous system abnormalities besides seizures are detected

  • Typically have seizures that look like

    • sudden and very short duration of jerking movements

    • Absence seizures (staring spells)

    • Generalized tonic-clonic seizures

  • Typically treated with medication

  • Caused by widespread brain damage

  • Injury during birth is most common cause

  • Other neurological problems such as mental retardation or cerebral palsy

  • Multiple types of seizures are common and can be difficult to control

    • Surgery maybe the best treatment

  • Begins in childhood (between the ages of 5 and 8)

  • May be part of family history

  • One of the mildest types of epilepsy

  • Almost always outgrown by puberty

  • Seizures tend to occur during sleep

  • Diagnosed with an EEG

  • Most common type of epilepsy that begins adulthood, but does occur frequently in children

  • Caused by a localized abnormality of the brain, which can result from strokes, tumors, trauma, congenital brain abnormality, scarring or sclerosis of brain tissue

  • Abnormalities can sometimes be seen on MRI scans, but they are microscopic

  • Maybe successfully treated with surgery

(Epilepsy Ontario)

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