Partial epilepsy is a form of epilepsy that involves disruptions to electrical activity in a large area of the brain. Sometimes, this can be an entire hemisphere and in other cases, it may be a smaller region. People with partial epilepsy can experience both simple and complex seizures. This condition is often controllable with medication and lifestyle modifications. People with seizure disorders usually receive regular evaluations by a neurologist for any signs of complications.
In a simple partial seizure, the patient retains consciousness during the seizure, but may not be able to respond and interact with people. Patients can experience a variety of symptoms including jerking movements, making involuntary noises, lip smacking, crying, and attempting to run or move around. The seizure is usually over very quickly and when the patient recovers, the memory of the seizure will be intact, although the patient may feel disoriented and weak.
Complex partial seizures involve a loss of consciousness and subsequent memory impairment. The patient's seizure may start out with a blank stare or other subtle signs before progressing to a total loss of consciousness. The patient will be unaware of the surroundings and will not respond to people. The seizure activity in partial epilepsy is not characterized by the infamous full-body muscle spasms of tonic-clonic seizures.
One problem with partial epilepsy is that it can be misdiagnosed very easily. The seizures may be mistaken for periods of inattentiveness, for example, and sometimes people who experience seizures in public are thought to be drunk or on drugs. Especially if the patient experiences seizures infrequently and the symptoms are mild, the existence of a seizure disorder may not be immediately identified.
Neurological evaluation is necessary to diagnose a patient with partial epilepsy. This includes studies of the brain and the doctor may attempt to induce seizures to get a look at seizure activity in a controlled environment. Treatment options can include medications to reduce seizure incidence, dietary changes, and other lifestyle adjustments, depending on the nature of the patient's epilepsy. Patients do not always respond to treatment and some tweaking of a treatment plan may be necessary to develop an effective plan for a patient's needs.
If someone near you appears to be having a seizure, there are some actions that can increase safety. Staying clear of the seizing person and not attempting to restrain is recommended, while gently guiding the person away from any potential hazards. People in the area should be told that the seizure will pass in a moment, and speaking in a reassuring, calm voice will help the seizing person during the early stages of recovery. If a seizure lasts longer than a minute, emergency services should be called, as the patient may be developing a dangerous condition known as a status seizure.