Diagnosing absence seizure epilepsy
The most important part of making a diagnosis is to have a clear description from parents or teachers of what happens during a suspected seizure. Often the description is typical of an absence seizure. However, sometimes it can be difficult for a doctor to be sure. The EEG test (ElectroEncephaloGram) is then helpful. This records the electrical impulses from the brain. Special stickers are put on parts of the scalp. They are connected to the EEG machine which amplifies the tiny electrical impulses given off by the brain and records their pattern on paper or a computer. The test is painless. People with absence seizures often have a typical EEG pattern.
Treatment with medicines
There are several different medicines that can control absence seizures. They work by stabilising the electrical activity of the brain. Medication needs to be taken each day to control seizures. In most cases one medicine can control seizures. A low dose is usually started at first. If this fails to control seizures, the dose may need to be increased.
What is the outlook (prognosis)?
The outlook is good. Absence seizures rarely continue into adulthood. This type of epilepsy is not usually associated with any other neurological (brain) condition. Children with this type of epilepsy have the same range of intelligence and other abilities as other children. Treatment usually controls the seizures so that education and other aspects of life can be normal. Treatment can often be stopped in the late teenage years.
About 1 in 3 children with absence seizures will also have one or more 'convulsive' seizures (tonic-clonic seizures). If this occurs, both the absence and convulsive seizures can be treated by the same medication. In this group of children with both types of epilepsy, if treatment is stopped when absence seizures have ceased (often in their late teens), some may develop further convulsive seizures later in life. Treatment may then need to be re-started.
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