What is an absence seizure?
(NewsNation) — March 26 is Purple Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy worldwide.
An estimated 50 million people worldwide are diagnosed with epilepsy, and seizures are the main symptom of the disorder.
What most people think of when they hear seizure are tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by jerking movements of the body and often including confusion or loss of consciousness.
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But those are not the only types of seizures associated with epilepsy; other types are less well known. One of those is an absence seizure, which can be much more difficult to detect.
Absence seizures include a brief, sudden lapse of consciousness. They often last between three to 15 seconds, and the person experiencing the seizure may stare blankly into space for a few seconds before returning to alertness.
These seizures are more common in children, many of whom outgrow them, but they can also be present in adults. Some people with absence seizures will go on to develop other types of seizures.
Absence seizures can be difficult to detect because there is no lingering confusion or drowsiness, and the person who has the seizure may not even be aware they have had one.
Someone having an absent seizure may appear to be daydreaming or distracted. They will usually stop what they're doing, stare into space, and may have small involuntary movements like fluttering eyelids, lip smacking or rubbing fingers together.
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During a short seizure, the person and those around them may not even realize what has happened. In longer absence seizures, the person seizing may feel they have missed time. Kids with absence seizures may appear to be daydreaming or distracted to parents and teachers.
Absence seizures aren't usually physically harmful but can become dangerous if someone has one while driving a car, riding a bicycle or doing any other kind of physical activity where a lapse in attention could be risky.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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