What is silent epilepsy?

Overview. Absence seizures involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness. They're more common in children than in adults. Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness.

What causes silent seizures?

Causes. Seizures result from overactivity in the brain. Absence seizures occur most often in people under age 20, usually in children ages 4 to 12. In some cases, the seizures are triggered by flashing lights or when the person breathes faster and more deeply than usual (hyperventilates).

How long do silent seizures last?

Doctors often don't know why this happens. Most absence seizures are less than 15 seconds long. It's rare for an absence seizure to last longer than 15 seconds. They can happen suddenly without any warning signs.

What happens if absence seizures go untreated?

Usually absence seizures last no longer than 15 seconds, but that loss of consciousness can make paying attention in school and learning more difficult especially when they occur multiple times a day. Children who have absence seizures may miss things throughout the day and even risk getting hurt.

Do absence seizures need to be treated?

Most children respond to treatment with anticonvulsant medication. In most children — up to 75% — absence seizures goes away by their teen years and medications are no longer needed.

Absence seizure | Types of seizures | Epilepsy

How do I stop silent seizures?

Certain seizure medicines can help prevent absence seizures. Usually these are recommended for most children. The medicines most commonly used for absence seizures include ethosuximide (Zarontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproic acid (Depakene), or divalproex sodium (Depakote).

What do silent seizures look like?

Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness. This type of seizure usually doesn't lead to physical injury.

Can silent seizures cause brain damage?

While absence seizures occur in the brain, they don't cause brain damage. Absence seizures won't have any effect on intelligence in most children. Some children may experience learning difficulties because of their lapses in consciousness. Others may think they're daydreaming or not paying attention.

Can you drive if you have absence seizures?

In general, absence seizures do not cause falls or injuries. However, if they happen while driving, swimming, or riding a bike, the loss of consciousness can cause an accident. Make sure that your loved one only participates in these activities if the seizures are well controlled.

Does absence seizures affect memory?

Furthermore, frequent recurrent seizures, even in the absence of neuronal injury, may lead to the decline of learning and memory.

What are the first signs of a seizure?

What does a mini seizure feel like?

Absence (or petit mal) seizures: You seem disconnected from others around you and don't respond to them. You may stare blankly into space, and your eyes might roll back in your head. They usually last only a few seconds, and you may not remember having one.

Can stress cause seizures without epilepsy?

Even in people without epilepsy, stress and anxiety can trigger PNES, which are also known as pseudoseizures. PNES are physiologically different from the neurological seizures found in epilepsy.

Can you have epilepsy without seizures?

When seizures become a consistent problem, this condition is called epilepsy. You may have a seizure without having epilepsy, but you can't have epilepsy without seizures — even if they don't cause obvious effects. Find out what distinguishes these seizures from epilepsy and what you can do to manage these conditions.

Can I have a seizure and not know it?

A simple partial seizure may also be referred to as a focal seizure without loss of consciousness. A complex partial seizure will cause you to lose awareness and consciousness. During this type of seizure, you might also make nonpurposeful movements.

What are the 4 types of seizures?

There are four main types of epilepsy: focal, generalized, combination focal and generalized, and unknown. A doctor generally diagnoses someone with epilepsy if they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. Medication is the most common treatment, and two-thirds of adults with epilepsy live seizure-free because of it.

Do absence seizures happen during sleep?

Conclusion. Absence seizures can occur during sleep in CAE. Absence seizures should be considered, especially when 3 Hz generalized spike and wave discharges last >2 s on EEG during sleep. It may be a sign of drug resistance and poor prognosis.

Can stress cause absence seizures?

Some people experience symptoms similar to those of an epileptic seizure but without any unusual electrical activity in the brain. When this happens it is known as a non-epileptic seizure (NES). NES is most often caused by mental stress or a physical condition.

Is epilepsy a disability?

Is Epilepsy Considered A Disability? Epilepsy is considered a disability and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.

Does epilepsy get worse with age?

The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.

Can anxiety cause seizures?

However, according to research on the experiences of people with seizures, stress and anxiety can trigger seizures, and current research often underestimates the role they may play. Lack of sleep is a common trigger for seizures, and this can often happen in people who are experiencing overwhelming stress.

Do seizures show up on MRI?

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy uses an MRI machine to analyze the molecular components of tissue in a particular area of the brain. This helps doctors differentiate a seizure from another condition, such as a metabolic disorder, tumor, or stroke.

Can you talk during a seizure?

Patients with simple partial seizures remain awake and aware throughout the seizure, and some patients can even talk during the episode.

Do seizures show up on CT scans?

CT scans can reveal abnormalities in your brain that might cause a seizure, such as tumors, bleeding and cysts.

How long can a seizure last before brain damage?

If convulsive status epilepticus lasts for 30 minutes or longer it can cause permanent brain damage or even death.