Absence seizures, often known as 'petit mal' seizures, are a type of epilepsy most common in childhood. They cause short lapses in awareness and usually start and end suddenly -- most people with absence seizures are only unaware for short periods of time.

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Epilepsy, or "seizure disorder," is a chronic neurological disorder marked by sudden and unpredictable seizures. Seizures happen when there is an unusual pattern of electrical signals in the brain, causing a disturbance.

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The most common type of seizure (60%) is convulsive, and the remaining 40% is non-convulsive. Within these definitions, there are many different kinds of epileptic seizures, making it a varied condition with a wide spectrum.

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When a person experiences epileptic seizures, they can be diagnosed with one of these three kinds: idiopathic, which means that there is no apparent cause; cryptogenic, which means there is probably a cause, but the doctor cannot identify it; and symptomatic, which means that the doctor knows what the cause is.

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In 70% of the cases, seizures can be managed with medication. When antiepileptic drugs do not work, the next option is surgery, a special diet, or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Conditions

"Condition" is a general term for particular abnormal diseases that negatively affect a part or all of the body. Conditions are not due to any external injury. Therefore, a broken bone does not classify as a condition, whereas Herpes, OCD, Shingles, and Ulcers do.

Medical conditions are classified by specific symptoms and signs. While each person's experiences can vary, there are consistent signs and symptoms that doctors will look for when diagnosing their patients. We always recommend that people seek a professional diagnosis. Afterward, supplement medical advice and opinion with accurate and easy to read information.

Most people only spend an average of a couple minutes with their doctor during a checkup. Oftentimes patients don't receive the fullest explanation of their diagnosis. Easily search through the vast amount of articles that Facty Health offers for ones that address your specific needs. From there, allow us to help you with those unanswered questions.

Epilepsy

10 Frequently Asked Questions about Absence Seizures

4. How are absence seizures diagnosed?

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