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Ency. home > Disease > P > Petit mal seizure

Petit mal seizure   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Seizure - petit mal; Absence seizure; Seizure - absence

Symptoms

TYPICAL

  • Muscle activity changes:
    • No movement
    • Hand fumbling
    • Fluttering eyelids
    • Lip smacking
    • Chewing
  • Consciousness changes
    • Staring episodes (unintentional)
    • Lack of awareness of surroundings
    • Sudden halt in conscious activity (movement, talking, etc.)
    • May be provoked by hyperventilation or flashing lights in some cases
    • Abrupt beginning of seizure
    • Each seizure lasts only seconds
    • Full recovery of consciousness, no confusion
  • No memory of seizure
ATYPICAL
  • Atonic seizure
    • No muscle movement
    • Slumping, loss of posture
    • Loss of muscle tone
    • Falling down
  • Consciousness changes
    • Unintentional staring
    • Lack of awareness of surroundings
    • Sudden stop of conscious activity (movement, talking, etc.)
    • Hand fumbling
    • Fluttering eyelids
    • May be provoked by hyperventilation in some cases
    • May have slower, gradual beginning of seizure
    • Each lasts only seconds to minutes
    • Recovery may be slower
    • May have short period of confusion
  • No memory of seizure
Note: Unexplained difficulties in school and learning difficulties may be the first indication of petit mal seizures.

Signs and Tests

A physical examination is usually normal, although with atypical petit mal seizures, some neurologic abnormalities may be present along with the seizures.

A single EEG (electroencephalograph) or multiple EEG exams may show changes typical of petit mal seizures. "Atypical absence" shows a different EEG pattern. Various laboratory tests, skull x-rays, a head CT scan or a head MRI may be used to rule out specific causes of the seizures.

Ency. home > Disease > P > Petit mal seizure

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