Diseases

Absence Epilepsy

A seizure disorder usually occurring in childhood characterized by rhythmic electrical brain discharges of generalized onset. Clinical features include a sudden cessation of ongoing activity usually without loss of postural tone. Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the SEIZURES. The usual duration is 5-10 seconds, and multiple episodes may occur daily. Juvenile absence epilepsy is characterized by the juvenile onset of absence seizures and an increased incidence of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p736)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A seizure disorder usually occurring in childhood characterized by rhythmic electrical brain discharges of generalized onset. Clinical features include a sudden cessation of ongoing activity usually without loss of postural tone. Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the SEIZURES. The usual duration is 5-10 seconds, and multiple episodes may occur daily. Juvenile absence epilepsy is characterized by the juvenile onset of absence seizures and an increased incidence of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p736)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

23 entry terms
  • Epilepsy, Absence
  • Epilepsy, Petit Mal
  • Petit Mal Epilepsy
  • Absence Seizure Disorder
  • Akinetic Petit Mal
  • Childhood Absence Epilepsy
  • Epilepsy Juvenile Absence
  • Epilepsy, Absence, Atypical
  • Epilepsy, Minor
  • Juvenile Absence Epilepsy
  • Pykno-Epilepsy
  • Pyknolepsy
  • Seizure Disorder, Absence
  • Absence Epilepsy, Childhood
  • Absence Epilepsy, Juvenile
  • Absence Seizure Disorders
  • Epilepsy, Childhood Absence
  • Epilepsy, Juvenile Absence
  • Minor Epilepsy
  • Petit Mal, Akinetic
  • Pykno Epilepsy
  • Pyknolepsies
  • Seizure Disorders, Absence

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

note entry term PETIT MAL EPILEPSY: do not confuse with PETIT MAL STATUS see STATUS EPILEPTICUS

MeSH Record

History Note

1992; was EPILEPSY, PETIT MAL 1963-1991

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.228w.140w.490w.375w.260w
  2. C10w.228w.140w.490w.493w.125w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 385

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Absence Epilepsy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004832. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004832
  2. Absence Epilepsy. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absence_seizure
  3. Absence Epilepsy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2346980