Types of Epileptic Seizures

Epilepsy is a nervous system disorder that causes seizures. Seizures are temporary changes in brain activity. Doctors categorize and treat different types of epilepsy based on the kind of seizure they cause. Absence seizures, or petit mal seizures, are brief, usually less than 15 seconds, and they have symptoms that may be barely noticeable.

Staring-spell seizures are often lumped together in public awareness under the heading of "petit mal" epilepsy. Petit mal is French for "minor illness," reflecting their more subtle appearance. However, using current terminology, there are two main kinds of staring-spell attacks--absence seizures and partial-complex seizures.

In an atonic seizure, a person suddenly loses muscle tone so their head or body may go limp. They are also known as drop attacks. In some children, only their head drops suddenly.

A grand mal seizure causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures. A grand mal seizure — also known as a generalized tonic-clonic seizure — is caused by abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain. Usually, a grand mal seizure is caused by epilepsy.

Myoclonic seizures are brief shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles. They occur in a variety of epilepsy syndromes that have different characteristics. During a myoclonic seizure, the person is usually awake and able to think clearly.

In tonic seizures, the body, arms, or legs may be suddenly stiff or tense. They usually begin in both sides of the brain. Learn about seizures where the body, arms, or legs may be suddenly stiff or tense.

Tonic seizures usually begin in both sides of the brain. Yet they can also begin in one area. Usually, no first aid is needed unless a person’s awareness is affected.