What is a seizure called that is caused by another disease process?

A seizure that is caused by another disease process is termed a secondary seizure. This type of seizure occurs as a result of underlying conditions such as head trauma, tumors, infections, or metabolic disorders affecting the brain. By identifying seizures this way, medical professionals can better assess the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.

In contrast, primary seizures, often referred to as idiopathic seizures, arise without any identifiable brain lesion or specific condition and are commonly associated with epilepsy. Complex seizures typically imply a classification that involves impaired consciousness and may be part of a broader category of seizure types, such as focal or generalized seizures, but they do not specifically denote a relationship to another disease process. Metabolic seizures, while they may arise due to metabolic imbalances, do not encompass the broader range of causes that secondary seizures do, as they refer to seizures specifically triggered by metabolic derangements.