Seizures (generalised partial)

Simple or complex partial seizures may progress to generalised seizures with loss of consciousness and often with convulsive motor activity.

Additionally, many patients with focal seizures have generalised seizure without an obvious focal component and which are difficult to distinguish from primary generalised seizures.

Clues to a focal origin to the seizure include:

• presence of an aura or observation of any focal feature, e.g. twitching of one extremity, aphasia, tonic eye deviation
• presence of a post-ictal - post-seizure - focal neurologic deficit - Todd's paralysis

Reference

1. Fisher RS, Cross JH, French JA, et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia. 2017 Apr;58(4):522-30.