The seizures are more common during childhood and adolescence and often resolve by the time a person reaches adulthood.
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Frequent Symptoms
Often, absence seizures occur without any noticeable symptoms.
They usually cause a person to have a blank stare, sometimes with rapid blinking of both eyes.
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A person experiencing an absence seizure appears fully awake and conscious but will not respond or interact with others.
The episodes are typically shorter than 10 seconds, so the lack of responsiveness might not seem highly unusual.
Hyperventilation
Absence seizures can often be triggered by hyperventilation.
This should only be done under medical supervision.
Research shows that more than half of the children who have absence seizures also have certain neuropsychiatric conditions.
Rare Symptoms
Sometimes absence seizures are described as atypical.
Complications/Sub-group Indications
Absence seizures are not known for specifically causing physical harm or serious neurological complications.
These episodes are not associated with falling or injuries.
However, people who have absence seizures can have difficulty achieving outcomes that rely on consistent and sustained attention.
For example, the episodes can cause problems with learning and test-taking.
This medication can sometimes help treat absence seizures.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Absence seizures are not life-threatening.
However, it is important to get a medical diagnosis and treatment.
take a stab at describe their symptoms in detail or ask their school teachers to describe them.
Summary
Absence seizures are more common among children than adults.
The episodes range in frequency and are usually spells of staring unresponsively for about 10 seconds.
Atypical absence seizures can have mild involuntary movements and may last for 20 seconds or longer.
A diagnosis and treatment can often decrease the frequency of absence seizures, which will help prevent these complications.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.
Kessler SK, McGinnis E.A practical guide to treatment of childhood absence epilepsy.Paediatr Drugs.
2019;21(1):15-24. doi:10.1007/s40272-019-00325-x
Epilepsy Foundation.Absence seizures.
