absence seizure meaning

Noun: absence seizure

1. The occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy
   - absence

Type of: ictus, raptus, seizure

Part of: epilepsia minor, petit mal, petit mal epilepsy

Encyclopedia: Absence seizure

[Medicine]
A childhood seizure disorder characterized by rhythmic electrical brain discharges of geneneralized onset. Clinical features include a sudden cessation of ongoing activity usually without loss of postural tone. Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the seizure. The usual duration is 5-10 seconds,and multiple episodes may occur daily. Juvenile absence epilepsy is characterized by the juvenile onset of absence seizures and an increased incidence of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. (Menkes,Textbook of Child Neurology,5th ed,p736)

• absence seizure disorder:    [Medicine]A childh ...
• absence seizure disorders:    [Medicine]A childh ...
• atonic absence seizure:    [Medicine]A childh ...

Examples

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1. There are no known before or after effects of absence seizures.
2. He may additionally have had absence seizures in his youth.
3. When someone experiences an absence seizure they are often unaware of their episode.
4. It is very rare that someone older will experience their first absence seizure.
5. These can take the form of either absence seizures or tonic-clonic seizures.