Seizures that recur without a direct trigger, such as a fever, are classified as epilepsy. They typically cause the patient to cry out and are followed by unconsciousness, twitching of legs and arms, convulsive body movements and loss of bladder control. Partial seizures are confined to one part of the brain, and may be either simple or complex. Simple partial seizures cause localized symptoms - muscle twitches, chewing movements and numbness or tingling. Complex partial seizures can produce hallucinations, staggering, random movements, impaired consciousness or confusion.
Babies typically fail to gain weight normally.
Young children often appear abnormally short. Teenagers may be unnaturally short for their age, and their sexual development may be unusually slow. These phenomena are thought to be caused by a combination of poor nutrition and damage to the brain centers that control growth. Some patients, particularly those with spastic hemiplegia, have muscles and limbs that are smaller than normal. Limbs on the side of the body affected by CP may grow slower than those on other side.