14 What are absence (petit mal) seizures?
Description
This article is from the Epilepsy FAQ, by Andrew Patrick (andrew@calvin.dgbt.doc.ca) with numerous contributions by others.
14 What are absence (petit mal) seizures?
Generalized absence seizures (formerly petit mal) are characterized by
5 to 15 second lapses in consciousness. During this time the patient
appears to be staring into space and the eyes may roll upwards.
Absences are not preceded by an aura and activity can be resumed
immediately afterwards. Typically, they occur in children and disappear
by adolescence. They may, however, evolve into other seizure types,
such as complex-partial or tonic-clonic. The occurrence of absences in
adulthood are rare.
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