secondary generalised seizures
Last reviewed 01/2018
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