Temporal Lobe Seizure

These are the type of seizures that starts from the temporal lobe of the brain. Temporal lobe is associated with processing emotions and important for short term memory. These type of seizures are also called as focal seizures with impaired awareness.

Symptoms

Temporal lobe seizures is preceded by aura i-e unusual sensation that trigger seizure. Aura is not present in every temporal lobe seizures but not everyone remembers who has auras. Auras can be sudden unprovoked fear or joy, strange and sudden odor or taste, rising sensation in abdomen as occur in roller coaster. Some main signs and symptoms are:

Loss of awareness of surroundings
Smacking lips
Staring
Picking motion or unusual finger movements
Repeated swallowing or chewing movements

After temporal lobe seizure is over;

There’s a short period of confusion and disturb speech
Unable to recall the seizure period
Unawareness of having had a seizure
Intense sleepiness
Sometimes temporal lobe seizures main evolve into generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure — featuring convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Causes

Exact cause of temporal lobe seizures is unknown but following factors have role in it’s development:

Trauma to brain
Encephalitis or meningitis
Scaring in temporal lobe/ hippocampus
Malformation of blood vessels in brain
Stroke
Tumor of brain
Genetic syndromes

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of temporal lobe seizures depends upon detailed medical history of seizure and it’s before and after scenarios. Complete general physical examination is also important. Other tests include:

Neurological test
Blood tests
Electroencephalogram (EEG).
Imaging tests like : computerized tomography (CT) scan, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).

Treatment

Treatment options for temporal lobe seizures include:

Certain anti-seizures medications
Surgical treatment
Vagus nerve stimulation
Dietary therapy
Responsive neurostimulation
Anti-seizures medication can interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. So this element should be considered of contraception is high priority

Temporal Lobe Seizure