Absence seizures, sometimes called petit mal seizures, are brief, usually lasting less than 20 seconds. They cause symptoms that may be barely noticeable. Absence seizures most commonly affect children between the ages of 4 and They can also occur in adults. Absence seizures tend to cause shorter and milder symptoms than tonic-clonic seizures , also called grand mal seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation , an advocacy group, absence seizures generally last less than 10 to 20 seconds.
Typical symptoms include:. Adults may mistake absence seizures in children as misbehaving or being inattentive.
The child will appear temporarily absent from their body. You can often tell if a person is experiencing an absence seizure because they become unaware of their surroundings, touch, and sound. Absence seizures typically occur suddenly and with no warning.
This makes taking precautions to protect the person having a seizure important. Your brain is a complicated organ, and your body relies on it for many things. The nerve cells in your brain send electrical and chemical signals to each other to communicate. Seizures are the result of altered electrical activity in your brain. You may also have altered levels of neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers that help brain cells communicate.
Everybody can experience seizures differently, but some of the ways people describe experiencing absence seizures include:. A neurologist , who specializes in diagnosing nervous system disorders, evaluates:. They will try to rule out other causes of your symptoms before diagnosing absence seizures. They may order an MRI of your brain. This scan captures detailed views of brain vessels and areas where potential tumors could be.
Another way to diagnose the condition uses bright, flickering lights or hyperventilation to trigger a seizure. It can be difficult to tell whether someone is daydreaming or having an absence seizure.
Here are some of the distinguishing features to look out for:. Focal onset seizures , or partial seizures, start on one side of your brain. These seizures are referred to as focal impaired awareness seizures when they cause changes in your level of awareness. Some focal impaired awareness seizures are misdiagnosed as absence seizures. Some of the key features that are more typical of focal impaired awareness seizures than absence seizures include:.
Antiseizure medications can treat absence seizures. Finding the right medication involves trial and error and can take time. An EEG is a test most often used to diagnose absence seizures. Spinal tap to test the cerebrospinal fluid. Absence seizures can be treated with a number of different antiseizure medicines. The type of medicine that your healthcare provider recommends you take will also depend on what other seizure disorder you may have.
If you have more than one type of seizure disorder, you may need to take multiple medicines. Taking your medicines exactly as your doctor prescribed is one of the best ways to manage absence seizures. But you can also make some changes in your life to help prevent absence seizures from happening.
These include:. Most people with epilepsy live full and active lives with medicine and other lifestyle changes. But it can be challenging at times to manage large and small life events when you have epilepsy.
Depending on your age and the severity and type of epilepsy, you may need support with the following:. Behavioral and emotional issues. It is important to get enough sleep and manage stress when you have epilepsy.
Stress and lack of sleep can trigger seizures. If you have trouble sleeping, talk with your healthcare provider about how to make sure you get enough sleep. Learn coping techniques that will help you manage stress and anxiety. With proper treatment, people with epilepsy can do just about any job safely and effectively. But, certain jobs in which there is a high risk to public safety may not be an option.
Epilepsy is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law prohibits discrimination against people with epilepsy and other disabilities. Coping with discrimination and stigma. Children and adults with epilepsy may face discrimination and struggle to overcome the stigma associated with this neurological condition. Help educate family, friends, co-workers, and classmates on your condition.
Let them know what to expect and how to help during a seizure. Allow your child to have some age-appropriate independence and participate in sports and other activities at school, when possible. Each state has different driving laws for people with epilepsy. Licensing may depend on how severe seizures are and how well they are controlled.
Consider public transportation where it is available. If you continue to have absence seizures, it may not be safe for you to drive. They also might:. Absence seizures usually last less than 3 minutes. After the seizure, the person may feel confused or tired, have a headache, or have other symptoms.
This is called the postictal post-IK-tul phase. It usually lasts just a few minutes, but can be longer. Many times, the cause for absence seizures is not known. Sometimes seizures are from gene mutations. Children with absence seizure usually have a relative with seizures too.
If your child had a seizure, the doctor probably will want you to see a pediatric neurologist a doctor who treats brain, spine, and nervous system problems. The neurologist will ask questions about what happened during the seizure and do an exam. Not everyone with absence seizures needs treatment. If they do, medicine is the most common treatment.
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