Focal Seizures

• Focal seizures (formerly known as partial seizures) refer to the electrical and clinical
manifestations of seizures that arise from one portion of the brain. An
electroencephalogram typically indicates a localized discharge over the area of onset,
or regions beyond the initial onset as the abnormal electrical activity propagates. Focal
seizures can originate from any lobe in the brain. Focal epilepsy of temporal lobe origin
is the most frequently recognized focal epilepsy.
• History & Exam :
1. movement of one side of the body or one specific body part
2. premonitory sensation or experience (fear, epigastric sensation, déjà vu,
jamais vu)
3. automatisms (picking at clothes, smacking of the lips)
4. temporary aphasia

https://bestpractice.bmj.com/search?q=Focal+seizures
• Focal aware seizures (formerly known as simple focal seizures)
are those in which consciousness is preserved.
• Focal impaired awareness seizures (formerly known as
complex focal seizures) are characterised by loss of awareness,
memory loss for the clinical event, and impaired responsiveness
at the time of the event.
• Focal seizures may evolve into bilateral tonic-clonic seizures
(formerly known as secondarily generalised tonic-clonic
seizures). The clinical manifestations of a particular seizure
depend on the clinically eloquent structures of the brain that are
activated

https://bestpractice.bmj.com/search?q=Focal+seizures
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/search?q=Focal+seizures
Adult
Treatment
Seizures

Rosen’s Emergency
Medicine. 2017
Rosen’s Emergency
Medicine. 2017
Pediatric
Treatment
Seizures

WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children 2013

WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children 2013