| seizure | <clinical sign, neurology> A sudden attack or convulsion due to involuntary electrical activity in the brain. It is due to an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain that can result in a wide variety of clinical manifestations such as: muscle twitches, staring, tongue biting, urination, loss of consciousness and total body shaking. Examples include: focal seizure, absence seizure, partial seizure, psychomotor seizure, petit-mal seizure and grand-mal seizures. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| seizure, causes of | Known causes of seizures include head injuries, brain tumours, lead poisoning, maldevelopment of the brain, genetic and infectious illnesses. But in fully half of the patients with seizures, no cause can be found. (12 Dec 1998) |
| seizures | Attacks of cerebral origin consisting of sudden and transitory abnormal phenomena of a motor, sensory, autonomic or psychic nature resulting from transient dysfunction of the brain. (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) |
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| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| minor motor seizure | Old term for nonconvulsive seizure seen in patients with secondary generalised epilepsies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| clonic seizure | A seizure characterised by repetitive rhythmical jerking of all or part of the body. (05 Mar 2000) |