Facts and Questions about Absence Seizures
Absence Seizures are difficult seizures to understand so this FAQ page is dedicated to explaining some basic and clear points of exactly what Absence Seizures are.
01
The Name
Absence Seizures but were formerly called Petit Mals which translates as "little illness."
People in the 70s-early 2010s may have heard them called Daydream Seizures too due to the appearance that you're daydreaming and not paying attention.
02
Dangers
The main danger of Absence Seizures is often undermined by people due to lack of education. The main dangers are physical damage from being hit by vehicles because, unlike with Tonic Clonic seizures a person with Absence Seizures keeps walking which means there is a likelihood of walking into a road.
03
Auras
With Tonic Clonic Seizures people often get an "Aura" some people smell smoke or fuel, some have a metallic taste, some get Deja Vu... Absence Seizures do not tend to have an aura unless you are going to have a cluster of Absence Seizures, an Absence lasting longer than a few minutes or Absence Status Epilepticus which is when an Absence lasts for a considerable amount of time and the person needs medical help to come out of it.
04
What exactly are they
Absence Seizures are small seizures that last between 2-30 seconds multiple times a day, some people experience it so frequently they can barely hold a conversation.
Absence Seizures, if not controlled or outgrown by 18 years old are difficult and in some cases impossible to control.
