What Are Petit Mal Seizures Signs Of?

Petit mal or absence seizures usually begin during childhood between the ages of four and twelve. Although in many cases the causes of petit mal seizures are not determinable, they can be signs of an underlying illness or disease.

Identification

• A petit mal seizures resembles vacant staring. Normally, these come on quickly with the child being unable to hear or respond to verbal or physical prompts and last up to 20 seconds.

Lennox-Gastaut

• In some cases, petit mal seizures are signs of a condition called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Unfortunately, this very severe form of epilepsy often results in brain damage.

Myoclonic Epilepsy

• Petit mal seizures are also sometimes the result of myoclonic epilepsy, which is more apt to develop later in childhood and early adolescence. Many times the seizures that accompany myoclonic epilepsy are caused by bright or flickering lights, like strobe lights or the reflection of sunlight off snow.

Other Causes

• Hyperventilation due to stress, anxiety or extreme trauma have the potential to cause isolated or one-time petit mal seizures. In adolescents or adults, sedatives like benzodiazepimes or alcohol abuse are also possible causes of isolated occurrences of petit mal seizures.

Prognosis

• In 70 percent of cases, petit mal seizures stop before the child reaches 18 and pose no lasting damage. For those who continue to have petit mal seizures forever due to an underlying disease or condition, 80 to 90 percent of absence seizures are controllable with prescription medication.