Complex partial seizures, now called focal onset impaired awareness seizures, are the most common type for adults who have epilepsy (a disorder that affects your brain cells). They’re usually harmless and only last a minute or two. But they can be strange or worrying — both for you and anyone who’s with you.
Seizures are brought on by surges of electrical energy in your brain. With a complex partial seizure, the surge happens only on one side and in a specific area. It’s called “partial” because only one part of your brain is affected.
During this type of seizure, you may not be able to control your movements or talk. Afterward, you may not remember at all.
Anyone can have a complex partial seizure, and doctors don’t always know why they happen. They’re often related to a type of epilepsy called temporal lobe epilepsy. They also may be more common in people who have had a stroke or head injury or who have other health problems, like an infection in their brain or a tumor.
Source: webmd.com, R. Morgan Griffin
