Absence Seizures – Diagnosis & Treatment

Complications:

• In spite of some kids outgrowing absence seizures, there are few for whom it is a life-long occurrence. In few situations, individuals having absence seizures gradually start having full-fledged convulsions known as grand mal or generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
• Other complications could involve:
  • Learning problems.
  • When seizures last for more than some minutes – absence status epilepticus.

Diagnosis & Tests:

Few kids could undergo episodes that have resemblance to absence seizures, but are not actually seizures. These occurrences could be halted when one calls the kid’s name or touches the shoulder. True absence seizures could be stopped by voices or by touching. They additionally have a tendency of occurring in the midst of the kid’s conversation or during physical activity.

For an accurate detection, the doctor would enquire about the complete account of the seizures. Blood analysis could aid in ruling out other probable causes of seizures, like imbalanced chemical constitution or the existence of toxic matter.

Other tests could involve:

• EEG or Electroencephalography
  This pain-free procedure involves the measurement of the waves of electrical activity present in the brain. Tiny electrodes connected to the scalp help in transmitting the brain waves to the EEG instrument. An attempt would be made for eliciting a seizure by asking the kid to hyperventilate or observe flashing lights.
• Brain Scans
  Tests like MRI or magnetic resonance imaging could capture in-depth imagery of the brain that could assist in excluding other kinds of problems like stroke or a brain tumor. A pain-free procedure, though the child would be needed to stay motionless for extensive time periods. One might need to speak to the doctor regarding probable usage of sedation, particularly in case of younger aged kids.

Treatment of Absence Seizures:

• Several medicines could effectually lower or purge the occurrence of absence seizures. A phase of trial-and-error could ensue in order to finalise the appropriate medicines and dose as it could be complicated. Regularly consuming the medications is imperative in order to maintain the appropriate levels of drugs in the blood.
• Frequently, the foremost drug advised for absence seizures is ethosuximide or Zarontin. Although other medications like valproic acid (Depakene) and lamotrigine (Lamictal) are also effectual in curbing seizures. The doctor would mostly begin with the smallest dosage of medicine and gradually increasing the dose for controlling the seizures. Majority of the kids could stop taking the anti-seizure medicines as advised by the doctor subsequent to them being free from seizures for 2 years.
• Women adults that require treatment for absence seizures are counselled for not taking valproic acid when they are attempting conception or during the course of pregnancy as the drug has been linked to an increasing risk of grave complications to the foetus. Women that fail to achieve control over seizure by any other kind of medications must discuss with the doctor regarding the probable risks.

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