Seizures

Overview Treatments A seizure is an episode of disturbed brain activity that can affect a variety of mental and physical functions. There are two major forms of seizures. Also see epilepsy. Generalized Seizures Generalized seizures seem to begin everywhere in the brain at once. They include: Absence seizures (also known as petit mal seizures) – staring with brief loss of consciousness; fluttering eyelids Myoclonic seizures – sporadic or repeated brief jerks of the limbs Clonic seizures – repetitive, rhythmic jerking movements of head or limbs Tonic seizures – loss of consciousness, stiffness and rigidity of the whole body; risk of falling Tonic-clonic seizures (also known as grand mal seizures) – loss of consciousness, rigid muscles, whole-body convulsions; risk of falling Atonic seizures (drop attacks) – loss of muscle tone in head or body; high risk of falling Partial Seizures Partial seizures are also called focal or local seizures. They begin in one location of the brain. There are several treatments appropriate for seizures related to epilepsy. Please refer to epilepsy treatments. Inova Functional Restoration Program at Inova Fairfax Hospital offers advanced treatment for epilepsy. For more information, call 703-776-4700.