Absence Seizures in Children

An absence seizure, also known as a petit mal seizure, is characterized by impaired awareness and responsiveness. They occur most often in children and may happen only occasionally or as often as several dozen times a day.

Symptoms

• During an absence seizure, a child appears to be staring off into space. His lips may smack and he may make small movements with his hands or arms. Eyelid fluttering and chewing are also common symptoms.

Cause

• Seizures in general are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Absence seizures are caused by the same signal repeating every three seconds. The underlying cause of this brain abnormality is not known.

Onset and Duration

• The seizures come on suddenly and usually last only a few seconds. Afterward, the child will not remember having the seizure.

Tests

• Since absence seizures cannot be stopped by external forces, such as tapping a child on the shoulder, the doctor will ask for a description of the seizure. He may also order an electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain waves or an MRI to look at the brain itself.

Treatment and Prognosis

• An antiseizure medication, such as ethosuximide (Zarontin) or valproic acid (Depakene), is often prescribed. Many children outgrow the seizures before they reach adulthood. In some cases, the child can later develop grand mal seizures.