The human brain operates by transmitting electrical signals via neurons (nerve cells). When there is a surge in these electrical signals, an individual will suffer an epileptic seizure. Seizures can impact the entire brain, but a partial seizure affects just a small portion of the brain. Epileptic seizures can occur as a result of various factors such as family history or sustaining a brain injury but their cause is often unknown. According to statistics, approximately 65 million people across the world have epilepsy with about 3 million in the United States. In the US alone, about 150,000 new cases of epilepsy are reported each year.
Research has also projected that 1 in every 26 people currently living in the United States is set to develop epilepsy at one point in their lifetime. As such, it is essential that you be knowledgeable on the types of epileptic seizures as they can affect anybody, even people close to you.
What are complex partial seizures?
A complex partial seizure is a type of epileptic seizure that originates in a small region of the frontal lobe or the temporal lobe of the human brain. From here, they rapidly spread to other parts of the brain that play a role in alertness and awareness. As such, despite an individual’s eyes remaining open and moving in a manner that seems to be deliberate, the truth is that they’re not really conscious. When the symptoms are not very distinct, people around the individual experiencing these seizures may think he/she is merely daydreaming. Some may even experience these complex partial seizures without noticing anything is happening to them. This type of seizure can even wipe out the person’s memories of events immediately before or after the seizure.
A number of these seizures, particularly those that originate in the temporal lobe, begin with a simple partial seizure. The individual then loses consciousness and stares blankly. Most people make movements with their mouth, pick at their clothing, or make other random, jerky movements. Such movements are referred to as “automatisms.” In a few cases, individuals may tend to repeat words or phrases, scream, laugh, or even cry. During these seizures, some individuals engage in rather embarrassing or dangerous activities such as taking off their clothes or walking or running into traffic. Such individuals need to plan in advance and put in place the necessary precautions.
Complex partial seizures that originate in the frontal lobe always seem to be shorter compared to those that originate in the temporal lobe. These seizures that originate in the frontal lobe also increasingly tend to consist of automatisms such as thrusting of the pelvis and cycling like movements with the legs. Some complex partial seizures develop into secondarily generalized seizures. These seizures will persist for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. After regaining consciousness, the individual may remain confused or tired for approximately 15 minutes and in some cases may not regain normal function for several hours.
In respect to other types of seizures, the outlook is entirely dependent on whether the cause of the seizure is clear. Some patients can outgrow seizures and manage them with proper medication. For those seizures that fail to respond to medication, surgery can be effective in eliminating some of them. Partial seizures are the most prevalent kind of seizures.
Who can suffer from complex partial seizures?
Virtually everybody can suffer from complex partial seizures. However, they tend to be more widespread in individuals who have suffered a stroke, brain infection, head injury, or brain tumor. In most cases, the cause is not always clear. After a person regains consciousness following this type of an epileptic seizure, he/she tends to be confused or tired for approximately 15 minutes and can even take hours to fully return to normal. If the person received any injuries, they will need first aid administered immediately.
How to Differentiate Complex Partial Seizures from Absence Seizures and Daydreaming
How do you know a person is experiencing a complex partial seizure and how regularly will they occur? In most cases, complex partial seizures tend to bear a resemblance to daydreaming or absence seizures. The frequency of complex partial seizure episodes is just a few times a day or a week. On the other hand, episodes of absence seizures can occur more often in a single day. By comparison, daydreaming episodes are very minimal and generally don’t last as long. Complex partial seizures can occur under any circumstances and at any time.
Complex partial seizures often start abruptly with a few starting slowly with signs. Interrupting complex partial seizures is not a good idea, unlike daydreaming episodes. Complex partial seizures can last for a few minutes while absence seizures only last for about 15-20 seconds. Whereas daydreaming episodes last until something attention-grabbing interrupts the individual. During complex partial seizures, individuals tend to be active and may experience automatisms. However, an individual having absence seizures or simply daydreaming, they will just appear to be staring into space. Furthermore, after a complex partial seizure, patients are often in a state of confusion.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Complex Partial Seizures
With careful observation, the diagnosis will be very conclusive in most cases. One of the most effective tests for this type of epileptic seizure is the use of an electroencephalogram (EEG). There are various treatment options that can assist in preventing the occurrence of complex partial seizures. Chronic complex partial seizures in individuals with epilepsy can be treated with surgery, diet therapy, and vagus nerve stimulation. If you suspect that a relative, a friend, or yourself might be experiencing complex partial seizures, report your concerns to a doctor immediately. If not properly managed through medication, complex partial seizures can cause injury, memory impairment, and, in extreme yet rare cases, death.
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Source: epilepsy.comPosted on May 5, 2023
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Mshtuko wa sehemu ngumu ni aina ya mshtuko wa kifafa ambao hutokea katika eneo dogo la lobe ya mbele au lobe ya muda wa ubongo wa binadamu. Kutoka hapa, huenea haraka kwenye sehemu nyingine za ubongo ambazo huchangia hali ya tahadhari na ufahamu. Kama vile, licha ya macho ya mtu kubaki wazi na kusonga kwa njia ambayo inaonekana kuwa makusudi, ukweli ni kwamba wao si kweli fahamu. Wakati dalili hazionekani wazi, watu wanaomzunguka mtu anayepatwa na mshtuko wa akili wanaweza kufikiri kwamba anaota ndoto tu. Wengine wanaweza hata kupata mshtuko huo mgumu bila kutambua kwamba kuna jambo linalowatokea. Aina hii ya mshtuko wa akili yaweza hata kufuta kumbukumbu za mtu wa matukio yaliyofanyika kabla au baada ya mshtuko wa akili. Baadhi ya mshtuko huo, hasa ule unaotokana na sehemu ya juu ya kifuani, huanza kwa mshtuko wa sehemu rahisi. Kisha mtu huyo hupoteza fahamu na kutazama bila kufikiri. Watu wengi hufanya harakati kwa mdomo wao, huchagua nguo zao, au hufanya harakati nyingine zisizo za kawaida, zisizo za kawaida. Harakati hizo huitwa "maonyesho ya moja kwa moja". Katika visa vichache, watu huenda wakawa na mwelekeo wa kurudia-rudia maneno au misemo, kupiga kelele, kucheka, au hata kulia. Wakati wa mshtuko wa akili, watu wengi hujihusisha na shughuli zenye aibu au hatari kama vile kuondoa nguo zao au kutembea au kukimbia kwenye barabara. Watu kama hao wanahitaji kupanga kimbele na kuchukua tahadhari zinazohitajika. Mshtuko wa sehemu ngumu unaotokana na sehemu ya mbele ya mwili huwa mfupi kuliko ule unaotokana na sehemu ya chini ya mwili. Mshtuko wa mbele wa fimbo ya mbele pia huanza kwa automatism kama vile kusukuma kwa pelvis na kuendesha baiskeli kama mwendo wa miguu. Baadhi ya mshtuko tata wa sehemu huendelea kuwa mshtuko wa jumla wa pili. Mshtuko huu wa kiharusi huendelea kwa sekunde 30 hadi dakika 2. Baada ya kupata fahamu, mtu anaweza kubaki kuchanganyikiwa au uchovu kwa dakika 15 na katika baadhi ya kesi inaweza kuwa na kazi ya kawaida kwa saa kadhaa. Kwa habari ya aina nyingine za mshtuko wa akili, matarajio hutegemea kabisa ikiwa kisababishi cha mshtuko wa akili ni wazi. Wagonjwa fulani wanaweza kuvumilia mshtuko huo na kuushinda kwa kutumia dawa zinazofaa. Kwa wale wanaoshindwa kujibu matibabu, upasuaji waweza kuwa wenye matokeo katika kuondoa baadhi yao. Mshtuko wa sehemu ndio aina ya mshtuko unaopatikana mara nyingi zaidi. Ni nani wanaoweza kupatwa na mshtuko wa kifafa? Karibu kila mtu aweza kuteseka kutokana na mshtuko tata wa sehemu. Hata hivyo, huwa yameenea zaidi kwa watu ambao wamepatwa na kiharusi, maambukizo ya ubongo, majeraha ya kichwa, au uvimbe wa ubongo. Katika visa vingi, kisababishi si wazi sikuzote. Baada ya mtu kupata fahamu baada ya aina hii ya kifafa, yeye huwa na kuchanganyikiwa au uchovu kwa dakika 15 na inaweza kuchukua hata masaa kurudi kwa kawaida. Ikiwa mtu huyo amepata majeraha yoyote, atahitaji msaada wa kwanza mara moja. Jinsi ya kutofautisha mapigo ya sehemu ya tata kutoka kwa mapigo ya kutokuwepo na ndoto ya mchana: Jinsi ya kujua mtu ana uzoefu wa mapigo ya sehemu ya tata na jinsi gani mara kwa mara yatatokea? Katika visa vingi, mshtuko tata wa sehemu hufanana na mshtuko wa kuota ndoto za mchana au mshtuko wa kutokuwepo. Mara nyingi, mshtuko huo huanza mara chache tu kwa siku au kwa juma. Kwa upande mwingine, vipindi vya mshtuko wa kukosa mahali pa kukaa vinaweza kutokea mara nyingi zaidi katika siku moja. Kwa kulinganisha, vipindi vya kuota ndoto za mchana ni vichache sana na kwa ujumla havidumu kwa muda mrefu. Mshtuko tata wa sehemu waweza kutokea chini ya hali yoyote na wakati wowote. Mara nyingi mshtuko tata wa sehemu huanza ghafula na wachache huanza polepole na dalili. Kusitisha mshtuko tata wa sehemu si wazo zuri, tofauti na matukio ya kuota ndoto za mchana. Mshtuko wa sehemu unaweza kudumu kwa dakika chache, wakati mshtuko wa kutokuwepo kwa dakika 15-20 tu. Wakati vipindi vya kuota ndoto za mchana huendelea hadi kitu fulani kinachovutia kinapomkatiza mtu huyo. Wakati wa mshtuko tata wa sehemu, watu huwa na shughuli nyingi na wanaweza kupatwa na automatisms. Hata hivyo, mtu ambaye ana mshtuko wa kutokuwepo au anaota ndoto za mchana, ataonekana tu kuwa anatazama angani. Isitoshe, baada ya mshtuko mgumu wa sehemu, mara nyingi wagonjwa huwa na mvurugo. Ugonjwa na Matibabu ya Matatizo Magumu ya Sehemu Kwa kuchunguza kwa uangalifu, utambuzi utakuwa wa hakika sana katika visa vingi. Mojawapo ya vipimo vyenye matokeo zaidi kwa aina hii ya mshtuko wa kifafa ni kutumia electroencephalogram (EEG). Kuna njia mbalimbali za matibabu zinazoweza kusaidia kuzuia mshtuko wa kiharusi wenye matatizo mengi. Matatizo magumu ya sehemu ya ugonjwa wa kifafa yaweza kutibiwa kwa upasuaji, matibabu ya lishe, na kuchochea neva ya vagus. Ikiwa unafikiri kwamba mtu wa ukoo, rafiki, au wewe mwenyewe huenda ukawa na mshtuko wa kifafa, ripoti wasiwasi wako kwa daktari mara moja. Ikiwa hazitashughulikiwa vizuri kupitia dawa, mshtuko tata wa sehemu waweza kusababisha majeraha, kupungua kwa kumbukumbu, na, katika visa vikali lakini visivyo vya kawaida, kifo. Picha: ThinkStock.com, Picha: ThinkStock.com, Picha: ThinkStock.com, Picha: ThinkStock.com, Picha: ThinkStock.com