Absence epilepsy: clinical features
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Absence epilepsy: clinical features. Staring, Behavioural arrest, Eyelid fluttering, Hand and facial automatisms. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Typical absence features
- Transient impairment of consciousness: this has a sudden onset and offset
- Staring
- Behavioural arrest
- Eyelid fluttering
- Hand and facial automatisms
- They may be provoked by 2-3 minutes of hyperventilation
Tonic and clonic movements
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Atonic movements
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Automatisms
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Autonomic features
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Atypical absences
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Absence status epilepticus: types
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Absence status epilepticus: features
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Electroencephalogram (EEG): features
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References
- Panayiotopoulos CP. Typical absence seizures and their treatment. Arch Dis Child 1999; 81:351-355.
- Ropper AH, Brown RH. Principles of Neurology eighth edition. McGraw Hill New York 2005 p274.
- Tenney JR, Glauser TA. The current state of absence epilepsy: can we have your attention? Epilepsy Curr 2013; 13:135-140.
- Bilo L, Pappatà S, De Simone R, Meo R. The syndrome of absence status epilepsy: review of the literature. Epilepsy Res Treat 2014; 2014:624309.
- Alves-Leon SV, Cardoso MF, Pereira VC, Meira ID. Clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of a cohort of patients with epilepsy and absence seizures. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2009; 67:986-994.
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