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Childhood absence epilepsy

Childhood absence epilepsy is a condition characterised by recurrent seizures (epilepsy). This condition begins in childhood, usually between ages 3 and 8. Affected children have absence seizures (also known as petit mal seizures), which are brief episodes of impaired consciousness that look like staring spells. During seizures, children are not aware of and do not respond to people or activities around them. The seizures usually last several seconds and they occur often, up to 200 times each day.

Description

Childhood absence epilepsy is a condition characterised by recurrent seizures (epilepsy). This condition begins in childhood, usually between ages 3 and 8. Affected children have absence seizures (also known as petit mal seizures), which are brief episodes of impaired consciousness that look like staring spells. During seizures, children are not aware of and do not respond to people or activities around them. The seizures usually last several seconds and they occur often, up to 200 times each day.

Some affected individuals have febrile seizures before they develop childhood absence epilepsy. Febrile seizures are involuntary muscle contractions (convulsions) brought on by a high body temperature (fever).

In most people with childhood absence epilepsy, the absence seizures disappear in adolescence. However, some affected individuals continue to have absence seizures into adulthood, or they may develop generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which cause muscle rigidity, convulsions, and loss of consciousness, or myoclonic seizures, which are characterised by rapid, uncontrolled muscle jerks.

Inheritance patterns

The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.

Other names

Absence epilepsy, childhood

Petit mal epilepsy

Pykno-epilepsy

Pyknolepsy

Related patient information and medicines

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Absence seizures usually occur only in children and young people. Most people with this type of epilepsy grow out of it by the time they are adults. This leaflet discusses only the type of epilepsy with typical absence seizures. There are other types of 'atypical' absence seizures not dealt w... What is an absence seizure. Absence seizure.

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Vivre avec l'épilepsie

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This leaflet is a brief introduction to the practical considerations of living with epilepsy. For more general information about epilepsy and seizures, see the separate leaflets called Epilepsy and Seizures and Types of Epilepsy and Seizures. Medication It is important that you take your medication regularly to reduce the risk of having seizures..

Historique de l'article

Les informations sur cette page sont rédigées et examinées par des cliniciens qualifiés.
  • 18 Aug 2020 | Dernière version
  • 1 Aug 2018 | Publié à l'origine

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