| complex partial seizure | <neurology> Seizures with elaborate and multiple sensory, motor, and/or psychic components. A common feature is the clouding of consciousness and amnesia for the event. Some clinical manifestations may include more complex behaviours like burst of anger, emotional outbursts, fear or automatisms. The EEG often reveals spike discharges in the temporal lobe during sleep. (05 Jan 1998) |
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| partial seizure | <neurology> A brief temporary alteration in movement, sensation or autonomic nerve function caused by abnormal electrical activity in a localised area of the brain. Focal seizures (i.e. Partial or Jacksonian seizures) usually cause no change in awareness or alertness. An example of a focal (partial) seizure would be rhythmic muscle contractions in one area of the body: lip smacking, mouth movements, drooling, head turning, eye movements or seemingly purposeful movements (for example picking at clothes). Other presentations may be strictly sensory with abnormal numbness, tingling or a crawling sensation to the skin. More unusual symptoms include changes in speech, thought, personality, mood, sensation of deja vu or hallucinations. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| simple partial seizure | A partial seizure that is not associated with impairment of consciousness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epilepsy, complex partial | Epileptic seizures that are episodic changes in behaviour in which an individual loses conscious contact with the environment. The onset of such seizures involves any of a variety of auras: deja-vu, an unusual smell, a sudden intense emotional feeling, a sensory illusion such as micropsia (objects growing smaller) or macropsia (objects growing larger), or other sensory hallucination. There may be a cessation of activity with some minor motor activity such as lip smacking, walking aimlessly, or other automatisms. The seizures may also be accompanied by the unconscious performance of highly skilled activities such as driving a car. When the seizure ends, the individual is amnesic for events that took place during the seizure and may take minutes or hours to recover fully to consciousness. (12 Dec 1998) |
| absence seizure | <neurology> A type of seizure that in contrast to the grand mal seizure, are noted for their brevity and for the degree of loss of awareness (brief staring spell) accompanied by minimal motor manifestations. A common form of childhood epilepsy. (06 Oct 1997) |
| akinetic seizure | Seizure characterised by sudden loss of muscle tone. Synonym: akinetic seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atonic seizure | Seizure characterised by sudden loss of muscle tone. Synonym: akinetic seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atypical absence seizure | An absence seizure associated with an EEG pattern of irregular or slow spike and wave at less than 2.5 Hz or paroxysmal fast activity on an abnormally slow background EEG. (05 Mar 2000) |
| audiogenic seizure | A reflex seizure precipitated by loud noises, rare in humans. Audiogenic seizures in rodents are an animal model of epilepsy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major motor seizure | A grand mal seizure or other convulsive seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gelastic seizure | A seizure characterised by laughing. This seizure type is often accompanied by hypothalamic lesions, such as hamartomas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| generalised seizure | <neurology> A type of seizure that results in loss of consciousness, generalised muscle contractions, urinary incontinence, tongue biting and a post-ictal state (confusion and lethargy) following cessation of the seizure. Synonym: grand-mal seizure. See: epilepsy. (03 Jul 1999) |
| generalised tonic-clonic seizure | <neurology> A type of seizure that results in loss of consciousness, generalised muscle contractions, urinary incontinence, tongue biting and a post-ictal state (confusion and lethargy) following cessation of the seizure. Synonym: grand-mal seizure. See: epilepsy. (03 Jul 1999) |
| versive seizure | A partial seizure associated with head and eye deviation to one side. (05 Mar 2000) |
| grand mal seizure | A type of seizure that results in loss of consciousness, generalised muscle contractions, urinary incontinence, tongue biting and a post-ictal state (confusion and lethargy) following cessation of the seizure. Also referred to as a grand-mal seizure. See: epilepsy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| petit mal seizure | An absence seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |