Seizures are an irregular electrical discharge that occurs from within the brain. It affects a focal spot of the brain and or the entire brain. The part of the brain where the seizures occur ultimately loses the regular ability of the function, which could react uncontrollably

For instance, if the part of the brain that controls your arm has a seizure in that area than the arm could repetitively shake throughout the seizure. If the brain is affected entirely this causes all extremities to shake uncontrollably during the seizure. Once a child is diagnosis of Epilepsy, this means a seizure disorder which both are the same meanings. The diagnosis given when the child has more than two seizures than they are a patient with epilepsy and can be put on medication to help slow or stop the seizures.

There are different types of seizures that a child could have. For example, each type has separate actions during, before, or after a seizure in a child. The two most common names called Focal and Generalized. Focal involves limited amount of regions in the brain. Additionally, Generalized has several different names of the types of seizures that can occur while the child is suffering from seizures. Generalized means the entire brain becomes affected. During a seizure in children and can usually cause loss of consciousness.

If your child suffers with Focal (partial) seizures, they will have symptoms such as

Motor signs as uncontrolled muscle movements
Somosensory or special sensory symptoms such as smell and vision
Autonomic symptoms – nausea, blood pressure change
All of the above and more depending on the localized area of the brain affected.

If your child has Generalized seizures these symptoms can be

Absence seizures – staring for seconds before returning to full function of their body again
Myoclonic seizures – rapid muscle jerks caused by
Benign Myoclonic epilepsy – very rare that can start at the age of four-months old
Severe Myoclonic epilepsy – results from progressive brain damage
Lenox-Glastaut syndrome – A severe epileptic disorder
Clonic seizures
Tonic seizures
Clonic tonic seizures
Atomic seizures
Unclassified epileptic seizures

As you read above there are several different names under the Generalized Epileptic disorder. This is due to the whole brain affected and the different classifications of the seizures are the severities and the affects it takes on while the child is having the seizure.