Types of Epilepsy

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which affects the brain. Repeated seizures are common. A person may have epilepsy but not experience active seizures because this propensity can last for a long time and the seizures can be controlled.
Seizures are brief, abrupt interruptions of the brain's electrical activity.
One side of the brain may have seizures first, or both sides may experience them simultaneously.
Epilepsy affects as least 50 million people globally and close to 40,000 people in Ireland. Many people experience the most symptoms of epilepsy during active seizures. If their seizures continue, some people may experience the effects of epilepsy over a longer period of time.

Did you know?

Epilepsy affects 1 in 115 individuals in Ireland, or more than 37,000 adults and children over the age of 5. More than 10,000 children and over 10,000 women of childbearing age are thought to be present. Epilepsy can strike anyone at any age, and rates are rising among people over 65. Epilepsy affects more than 50 million individuals globally.
The diagnosis is made based on the patient's medical history and typically follows two or more unexplained seizures. However, in some circumstances, a person can be medicated after their initial seizure. Even if many people's scans and tests come back normal, epilepsy can still be identified About 50% of the time, the cause is unknown.
When known causes are present, they may include genetic factors, brain infections, strokes, and brain injuries. Medication can control seizures in 70% of people with epilepsy; however, in 30% of cases, seizures are difficult to control. Medication for epilepsy is covered by the Long-Term Illness Scheme at no cost to patients. While some seizures impair awareness, others do not
The main seizure groups are generalised, focal, and unknown onset. Certain trigger factors can increase the likelihood of seizures, including missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, missing meals, alcohol, illness, hormones, and flashing lights. Symptoms can range from a déjà vu feeling to falls with shaking limbs.

Generalized onset seizures:

These seizures affect both sides of the brain or groups of cells on both sides of the brain at the same time. This term was used before and still includes seizures types like tonic-clonic, absence, or atonic to name a few.

Focal onset seizures:

The term focal is used instead of partial to be more accurate when talking about where seizures begin. Focal seizures can start in one area or group of cells in one side of the brain.

Focal Onset Aware Seizures: When a person is awake and aware during a seizure, it’s called a focal aware seizure. This used to be called a simple partial seizure.
Focal Onset Impaired Awareness: When a person is confused or their awareness is affected in some way during a focal seizure, it’s called a focal impaired awareness seizure. This used to be called a complex partial seizure.

Unknown onset seizures:

When the beginning of a seizure is not known, it’s now called an unknown onset seizure. A seizure could also be called an unknown onset if it’s not witnessed or seen by anyone, for example when seizures happen at night or in a person who lives alone.

As more information is learned, an unknown onset seizure may later be diagnosed as a focal or generalized seizure.