Types of Epilepsy

In my research on Epilepsy, I have discovered that there are actually different types of this disorder.  In this entry I will briefly explain the different types of Epilepsy.

The first type is called Benign Focal Childhood Epilepsy. In this type, it causes the muscles all over the body to stiffen and jerk uncontrollably. This mostly occurs at night. 

Next is Childhood and Juvenile Absence Epilepsy, in this kind, the effected person stares into space. They may experience eye flutters, and some slight muscle jerking.

Third is called Infantile Spasms or West Syndrome. This type causes muscle spasms, affecting a child's head, torso, and limbs.

Fourth is called Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, which causes jerking in the shoulders and the arms.
Fifth is called Lennox-Gastaut Epilepsy, this kind causes frequent and several different types of seizures. This could lead to unexpected falls and injuries from falling.
Sixth is the most common type in adults. It is called Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. This type of Epilepsy causes the person to involuntarily smack their lips or rub their hands together. It also causes emotional or thought disturbances, as well as hallucinations of sounds smells and tastes.

I was very surprised at how many different types and categories of Epilepsy there are, and even more surprised at how many different types of seizures there are! So, let's move it along to the next blog and talk about all the different kinds of seizures.