SEIZURES-ABSENCE SEIZURES

SUMMARY

1. Non-convulsive, generalized seizures with no aura and no postictal symptoms.

2. The attacks occur without warning and consist of a sudden interruption of consciousness during which the patient stares and briefly stops talking or ceases to respond.

3. They can be induced by hyperventilating.

4. Absences have a characteristic 3-per-second spike and wave pattern on EEG.

5. 2/3 of affected children outgrow absence seizures.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].