Diseases
partial seizures
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Overview
Focal seizures are also called partial seizures since they begin in one area of the brain. They can be caused by any type of focal injury that leaves scar tangles. Medical history or MRI will identify a cause (such as trauma, stroke or meningitis) in about half of the people who have focal seizures.
Symptoms
- a sudden sense of unprovoked fear or joy
- a deja vu experience — a feeling that what's happening has happened before
- a sudden or strange odor or taste
- loss of awareness of surroundings
- staring
Causes
- infections, such as encephalitis or meningitis, or a history of such infections
- traumatic brain injury
- a process that causes scarring (gliosis) in a part of the temporal lobe called the hippocampus
Risk factors
- blood vessel malformations in the brain
- stroke
- brain tumors
Diagnosis
- neurological exam.
- electroencephalogram (eeg)
- computerized tomography (ct) scan
Medicines used
Frequently asked questions
What is partial seizures?
Focal seizures are also called partial seizures since they begin in one area of the brain. They can be caused by any type of focal injury that leaves scar tangles. Medical history or MRI will identify a cause (such as trauma, stroke or meningitis) in about half of the people who have focal seizures.
What are the symptoms of partial seizures?
a sudden sense of unprovoked fear or joy, a deja vu experience — a feeling that what's happening has happened before, a sudden or strange odor or taste, loss of awareness of surroundings, staring
What causes partial seizures?
infections, such as encephalitis or meningitis, or a history of such infections; traumatic brain injury; a process that causes scarring (gliosis) in a part of the temporal lobe called the hippocampus
Which medicines are used for partial seizures?
oxcarbazepine
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