Absence seizures

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Absence seizures

An absence seizure is a brief—5 to 15 seconds—but total loss of awareness that occurs suddenly without any warning and ends as suddenly as it begins. Absence seizures are most common in childhood and occur in people with generalized epilepsy of unknown cause.

The face muscles may twitch during the seizure. Although the person may appear to be awake, he or she cannot respond to anything or anyone. When the seizure stops, the person may resume normal activity without knowing that anything happened.

An absence seizure can sometimes be brought on by deep and rapid breathing (hyperventilation). During these few seconds of altered awareness, the person:

Stares into space without moving.
Stops speaking in mid-sentence, and their eyes may blink or flutter.
Makes involuntary movements, such as lip-smacking, chewing, hand wringing, picking, or swallowing.

The person may have dozens or even hundreds of absence seizures each day.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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