Partial Seizure: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Partial Seizure?
A neurologist, a doctor who treats brain and nerve problems, usually treats partial seizures. Children may see a pediatric neurologist, a brain and nerve doctor for kids. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is a partial seizure?
A seizure is a symptom of a brain problem. Seizures happen because of sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A partial seizure, also called a focal seizure, happens in just one part of the brain.
Sometimes the seizure stays in one part of the brain. At other times it can turn into a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure, which affects the whole brain. Doctors also sort focal seizures by whether they affect awareness or not.
Symptoms
The symptoms depend on where in the brain the seizure starts. They can include:
- Muscle tightening, such as odd head or limb movements or a twisted face.
- Staring spells, sometimes with repeated movements such as picking at clothes or lip smacking.
- Odd feelings, such as numbness, tingling, or a crawling feeling like ants on the skin.
- Seeing, smelling, or sometimes hearing things that are not there, which are called hallucinations.
- Belly pain or discomfort, nausea, sweating, a flushed face, wide pupils, or a fast heartbeat.
- Blackout spells, which are periods of time lost from memory.
- Changes in vision, changes in mood or emotion, or a short time when you cannot speak.
People who have a focal seizure that affects awareness may or may not remember the symptoms or events.
Causes and who gets it
Focal seizures are the most common type of seizure in people 1 year and older. They are usually linked to an area of the brain where nerve cells are easily excited. This is often due to a brain injury from stroke, infection, injury, or problems present at birth.
In people older than 65, focal seizures are very common if they have blood vessel disease of the brain or brain tumors. Seizures in general can have many causes, including medicines, high fevers, head injuries, and certain diseases. People who have repeated seizures due to a brain disorder have epilepsy.
How doctors diagnose it
A doctor will do a physical exam, including a detailed check of how your brain and nerves work. The doctor will ask what happened before, during, and after the seizure. If someone else saw the seizure, it can help to bring that person to the appointment.
Tests can include:
- An electroencephalogram, or EEG, which checks the electrical activity in the brain.
- Blood and urine tests, which can check for other health problems that may be causing the seizures.
- A head CT or MRI scan, which may be done to find the cause and location of the problem in the brain.
An EEG can sometimes show the area in the brain where the seizures start.
Treatment
Treatment for focal seizures includes medicines, changes in lifestyle such as activity and diet, and sometimes surgery.
For people who have epilepsy, the NHS says the main treatment is medicine to prevent seizures. These are called anti-epileptic or anti-seizure medicines. For most people these medicines work well to prevent seizures. Do not change your dose or stop taking your medicine without talking to your specialist.
Rarely, other treatments are needed. These can include surgery on the brain, a small electrical device placed under the skin of the chest to help reduce seizures, or a special diet.
The NHS also suggests keeping a diary to find things that might trigger a seizure, such as tiredness, stress, flashing lights, food, or drink.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. Also get emergency help if a person has many seizures and does not wake up between them. Get emergency help if it is the first time a person has had a seizure. Also get emergency help if the person does not recover as usual afterwards.
Ask for an urgent appointment with your doctor if you have a seizure after having none for a long time. A seizure does not always mean epilepsy, but a specialist doctor needs to check the cause.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care doctor can review what happened during a seizure, order first tests, and refer you to a neurologist when needed. After a diagnosis, this doctor can help keep track of your medicines and follow-up visits.
Common questions
Is a partial seizure the same as a focal seizure?
Yes. Partial seizures are also called focal seizures. They happen in just one part of the brain.
How long does a partial seizure last?
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes and do not cause lasting harm. It is a medical emergency if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Does having a seizure always mean I have epilepsy?
No. Having a seizure does not always mean you have epilepsy, as seizures can have other causes. People who have repeated seizures due to a brain disorder have epilepsy.
Can a partial seizure spread to the whole brain?
Yes, sometimes it can.
Will I remember a partial seizure?
Not always. People who have a focal seizure that affects awareness may or may not remember the symptoms or events.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
