Seizures

Introduction

A seizure is the result of a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain. This causes the brain's messages to become temporarily halted or mixed up. The type of seizure a person has depends on the area of the brain where this activity occurs.

The old word for a seizure is 'fit'. Epilepsy Action prefers the word seizure because in today's language, 'having a fit' usually means getting really angry, which of course has nothing to do with epilepsy. 

There are around 40 different types of seizure, ranging from brief absent moments, to episodes of losing consciousness, falling to the floor and convulsing.

Because there are so many different seizure types and symptoms, epilepsy can be a difficult condition to diagnose. It is also possible for some people to be misdiagnosed with epilepsy, because there are a number of other conditions which can cause episodes or attacks that look like an epileptic seizure. Examples of these can include vertigo, faints and heart disturbances.

It is important for doctors to know what type of seizure a person has, so they can decide on the most suitable course of treatment. This is why it is so helpful to keep a diary and even take a video recording, when someone has a seizure. It is rare that someone has a seizure in the doctor's consultation room, so it is helpful to be able to provide as much detail as possible.

March 2008