Absence Seizure

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Absence seizures are brief seizures characterized by a behavioral arrest that correlates with generalized 3-Hertz spike-and-wave discharges on electroencephalogram (EEG). Absence seizures occur in multiple genetic generalized epilepsies including childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Atypical absence seizures have been reported in up to 60% of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. • Family members and teachers usually describe brief spells in which the patient has a loss of awareness, is unresponsive and has a behavioral arrest. They describe the patient during these spells as having “a blank stare”. Episodes frequently occur, often 10 to more than 30 times throughout the day. Most children stop their activity completely, but some can continue the activity more slowly or in an unusual manner. Some children have 3-Hertz regular eyelid fluttering. • Oral automatisms can also occur, especially with prolonged seizures or during hyperventilation. Children frequently have mild clonic or tonic movements in the first few seconds of the spell. Pallor is frequently reported. • Urinary incontinence is rare. Spells usually last between 4 and 30 seconds. Hyperventilation, a state of arousal, sleep deprivation, and medication use can affect the duration of the seizure. • These seizures are not preceded by an aura and do not have a postictal state. • • #epilepsy #seizure #absenceseizure • Reference: • Albuja AC, Murphy PB. Absence Seizure. [Updated 2020 Nov 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB... • • Image credit: Kjpargeter, pressfoto / Freepik @ http://www.freepik.com • Sultiame revisited: Treatment of refractory absence seizures - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/E... [accessed 13 Mar, 2021]

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