This is a condition in which brief and sudden lapses of consciousness happen. It is called an absence seizure and mostly occurs in children rather than adults. Children with this seizure type may stare blankly into space for several seconds. Thereafter, he/she returns quickly to be alert. Usually, this condition does not cause physical injuries, but it may happen when riding a bike or driving a car.
In most cases, doctors recommend antiseizure medications to treat this condition. Sometimes, children may develop other seizures, including generalized tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, and others. There are a lot of children who outgrow this seizure type in their teens.
Symptoms
Frequently, a simple absence seizure that causes a vacant stare can be mistaken for a brief lapse in attention. It often lasts approximately 10 seconds, but in some cases, it may last up to 30 seconds. Moreover, after the seizure, children often do not experience confusion, headaches, or drowsiness. Check below for some symptoms of absence seizures:
- Lip smacking
- Sudden stop in activity
- Eyelid flutters
- Chewing motions
- Finger rubbing
- Small movements of hands
In most cases, people do not remember the incident, but when the seizure lasts longer, they may be aware of the missed time. Commonly, those who develop this condition experience multiple episodes daily. However, children with absence seizures experience problems with school and other daily activities.
Usually, adults notice that their child experiences absence seizures over time because they last too little to be noticed. Other signs of seizure disorder are a decline in learning abilities and trouble paying attention.
It is advised to contact a pediatrician if you suspect your child may have seizures, if it has epilepsy but develops symptoms of a new seizure type, or if antiseizure medications do not work.
You should go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 in the U.S. in the following cases. You notice long-term automatic behaviors that last minutes or hours. These often include activities such as moving or eating without awareness or prolonged confusion. Previous symptoms usually happen in people with a condition known as status epilepticus.
Causes
In most cases, absence seizures occur due to certain gene mutations. Generally, seizures are caused by bursts of electrical impulses that come from nerve cells in the brain (also called neurons). In normal circumstances, the brain’s nerve cells send electrical and chemical signals across synapses that link them.
The brain’s electrical activity is altered in people who experience seizures. However, during an absence seizure, the electrical signals repeat themselves for a few seconds. Furthermore, people who experience seizures also have altered levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that help nerves communicate).
Risk Factors
Healthcare professionals identified some factors that may elevate your risk of developing absence seizures. Examples include:
- Age – This condition is mostly diagnosed in children between 4 and 14 years old.
- Sex – Women are more prone to develop absence seizures than men.
- Family history of seizures – If you have a sibling or parent with absence seizures, your risk of developing them significantly increases.
What Are The Possible Absence Seizure Complications?
In most cases, children outgrow absence seizures, but some of them may develop complications. Check below for some examples:
- One complication is lifelong antiseizure medicine use
- Convulsions (including generalized tonic-clonic seizures)
- Trouble with behavior, learning, and thinking skills
- Social isolation
- Injury during the seizure
This document does not contain a full list of complications. Discuss this with your physician for more details.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose this condition by performing the following tests and a medical history evaluation. Below are some tests used to confirm the disease and rule out others that cause similar symptoms:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) – This is a quick and painless test used to measure the electrical activity in the brain. During this test, the brain waves are sent to the EEG machine through small electrodes that are attached to the scalp. Moreover, hyperventilation (also called rapid breathing) may trigger an absence of seizure during an EEG.
- Brain scans – Physicians usually perform a brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to check for abnormalities linked with the disease. These include a brain tumor, stroke, and other conditions. MRI scans produce detailed images of the brain and nearby structures.
Treatment
In most cases, doctors prescribe the lowest dose of antiseizure medicines and then gradually increase the dose if needed. Check below for some medications often prescribed for absence seizures:
- Ethosuximide – Usually, this is the primary medicine recommended for children with absence seizures. People notice improvements with Ethosuximide within a few days. The most common adverse reactions include vomiting, sleepiness, nausea, insomnia, and hyperactivity.
- Lamotrigine – Some studies showed that this medication is less effective than Ethosuximide, but it also causes fewer adverse reactions. In most cases, people who use Lamotrigine experience nausea and rash.
- Valproic Acid – This medication is used to treat more seizure types, including absence seizures, tonic-clonic seizures (also called grand mal seizures), and others. However, this medicine may cause some adverse reactions, including attention problems, appetite changes, weight gain, or nausea. In rare cases, people may experience inflammation of the pancreas and liver failure. It often happens when a person takes high doses of Valproic acid. Women who need to continue the treatment with this medicine into adulthood should consult with their doctors. This drug is linked with an increased risk of birth defects in babies.
Home Remedies
The following tips may help improve the symptoms and your quality of life. Examples include:
- Dietary changes – Some variations of the ketogenic diet may improve the symptoms caused by absence seizures.
- Your child should take medicines exactly as prescribed by doctors. Never adjust the dose without a doctor’s approval because it may lead to unpleasant results.
- A good sleep cycle is very important in treating seizures. However, a lack of sleep may trigger the symptoms.
- It is recommended for your child to wear a medical alert bracelet because it helps emergency personnel treat your child properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be mistaken for absence seizures?
There are some conditions that can be mistaken for absence seizures. These include daydreaming, inattention, panic attacks, movement disorders, or even other seizure types. This document does not contain all possible conditions that can be mistaken for absence seizures.
What are the triggers of seizures?
These include:
- Illegal drugs
- Flashing lights
- Alcohol
- Sleeping disturbances (insomnia)
- Skipping or changing dosages of antiseizure medicines
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Dehydration
Discuss this with your physicians for more details.
What happens if absence seizures go untreated?
Those who ignore the symptoms and do not treat the condition may experience some complications. These include:
- Difficulties in learning, school performance, and daily activities
- Reduced quality of life
- Increased risk of injury
- Behavioral and social problems
- Disturbances in attention, cognition, mood, and others
Ask your healthcare professional if you have additional questions.
