What is an absent seizure?

What is an absent seizure?

An absence seizure causes you to blank out or stare into space for a few seconds. They can also be called petit mal seizures. Absence seizures are most common in children and typically don’t cause any long-term problems. These types of seizures are often set off by a period of hyperventilation.

What is atypical absence seizures?

An atypical absence seizure has less abrupt onset and offset of loss of awareness than typical absence seizures. They are often associated with other features such as loss of muscle tone of the head, trunk or limbs (often a gradual slump) and subtle myoclonic jerks.

What are the main characteristics of an absence seizure?

Absence seizures involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness. They’re more common in children than in adults. Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness.

What causes absent seizures?

Causes. Seizures result from overactivity in the brain. Absence seizures occur most often in people under age 20, usually in children ages 4 to 12. In some cases, the seizures are triggered by flashing lights or when the person breathes faster and more deeply than usual (hyperventilates).

How are atypical absence seizures treated?

Absence seizures are treated with antiseizure medications. Ethosuximide (Zarontin®) is the preferred medication to treat absence seizures. Other medications that your healthcare provider might try include valproate (Depakene®), lamotrigine (Lamictal®) and topiramate (Topamax®).

What do atypical seizures look like?

Atypical seizures are similar to typical seizures, except they tend to begin more slowly, last longer (up to a few minutes), and can include slumping or falling down. The person may also feel confused for a short time after regaining consciousness.

How do you control absence seizures?

Can absence seizure be cured?

Most children respond to treatment with anticonvulsant medication. In most children — up to 75% — absence seizures goes away by their teen years and medications are no longer needed.

How do you prevent absence seizures?

Here are other steps you might take to help with seizure control:

1. Take medication correctly. Don’t adjust the dosage before talking to your doctor.
2. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can trigger seizures.
3. Wear a medical alert bracelet.
4. Ask your doctor about driving or recreation restrictions.

Can an atypical absence seizures be cured?

Do atypical absence seizures go away?

A teacher may want to talk to the parent, because the child is having problems at school. Atypical absence seizures usually continue into adulthood.

How long do atypical absence seizures last?

Atypical absence seizures usually last 5 to 30 seconds, most often more than 10 seconds.

What does epilepsy, absence mean?

Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, typically occur in children. They’re characterized by staring into space with or without subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking and only last between 5-10 seconds.

What is absence epileptic syndrome?

absence status epilepticus (as) is a peculiar epileptic condition which has been defined as a prolonged, generalized absence seizure, lasting at least more than half an hour but usually lasting for hours and even for days [1]; the impairment of consciousness is sometimes associated with automatisms or other subtle myoclonic, tonic, atonic, or …

What is the best medicine for absence seizures?

Acetazolamide (Diamox):

What triggers an absence seizure?

Take the seizure medicine every day at the same time. This will also help prevent medicine side effects.