Petit Mal Seizures Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Petit Mal Seizures?

Petit mal seizures, also known as absence seizures, are a type of seizure disorder that is characterized by brief but recurring episodes of unconsciousness and abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The cause of petit mal seizures is unknown, although genetic and environmental factors may play a role. During an episode, someone with this condition will appear to stare blankly into space for several seconds before returning to normal behavior. In some cases, there may be rapid blinking or chewing movements during the episode. The most common symptom of petit mal seizures is a sudden change in consciousness without any physical signs or symptoms such as muscle jerking or shaking. This can occur multiple times per day and last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Other symptoms include confusion or difficulty understanding what’s going on around them; difficulty speaking; staring spells; facial twitches; lip smacking; eye rolling; and/or hand flapping/clapping. Treatment for petit mal seizures typically involves medications such as ethosuximide (Zarontin), valproic acid (Depakene), lamotrigine (Lamictal), clonazepam (Klonopin). In some cases psychological counseling may also be recommended to help manage stress levels which can trigger episodes. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as getting adequate sleep, avoiding drugs and alcohol use, avoiding triggers like bright lights or loud noises can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes. Living with petit mal seizures can have significant impacts on quality of life due to decreased cognition abilities when experiencing an episode leading people feeling isolated from their peers and family members who don’t understand what’s happening to them at the time they experience an episode due its brief duration where they often appear ‘normal’ again quickly after it has passed causing others not realize that anything had happened in first place.