What are seizures of absence?

absence attacks are short, sudden pauses with conscious activity resulting in abnormal electrical functioning in the brain. These types of seizures are characteristic of a neurological disorder called epilepsy and the affected individual can potentially have several tens or hundreds of episodes a day. The absence of a seizure can take anywhere from a fraction of a second to about 15 seconds and may lead to a forfeiture of concentration, unusual muscle movements and unintentional staring. Most people who have this type of epilepsy are able to effectively master their symptoms and minimize episodes using daily antiepileptic drugs. When there is a seizure of absence, brain activity rises for a moment and suddenly stops anything he did, such as walking or speaking. Hands, eyelids, lips can move embarrassed or shake and the person's usual cannot help but stare directly forward. The attacks of absence rarely last more than 15 seconds, and most people have no memory of episodes.

It is often difficult for doctors to determine the exact causes of human absence attacks. The disorder is most common in children and adolescents, probably because of the fact that electrical activity in the growing brain is more chaotic because new pathways and connections are performed. In fact, most people grow from their disorders of seizures until they reach 25. Some studies indicate that this form of epilepsy may be inherited from one or both parents. Beauty of absence may also occur due to drug abuse, alcohol collection, head trauma or defects of the congenital nervous system.

Medical care is needed for a child or adult that experiences seizures of absence. In the hospital, the patient is usually evaluated by a neurologist or epileptologist. Doctors can perform a brain scan magnetic resonance (MRI) to check the physical abnormalities and electroencephalogon (EEG) to track electricricky activities. MRI and EEG results are used to determine the type and severity of the patient's seizure disorder.

Doctors usually treat seizures of absence by prescribing antiepileptic drugs. Many drugs used to treat epilepsy can have negative side effects such as liver failure or depression. Patients are usually carefully monitored for several weeks after the start of a particular drug regime. As a preventive measure, a patient who experiences frequent absent seizures may be instructed to avoid potentially dangerous activities such as driving a car. Most people who take medication and receive regular checks with neurologists are able to live normal lives without symptoms.