Focal epilepsy

Focal (or partial) epilepsy involves focal epileptic seizures, i.e. partial seizures (as opposed to generalised epileptic seizures). A partial seizure may extend to a generalised tonic-clonic seizure.

The starting point of partial seizures is located in a cerebral hemisphere.

The different types of focal epileptic seizures

Idiopathic focal epilepsies are different from symptomatic focal epilepsies:

• idiopathic focal epilepsies involve focal epileptic attacks which are not associated with brain lesions. Photosensitive epilepsy, due to long exposure to a screen is an example of this.
• Symptomatic focal epilepsies are classified according to the epilepsy's starting point. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy for example begins in the internal aspect of the temporal lobe.