Absence Seizures in Children

Absence seizures, when a child stares into space and appears unresponsive, are most common in children ages 4 to 14. A family history of absence seizures exists in about one in every three cases. Moreover, there is a one in 10 chance that a sibling will experience absence seizures. However, not all families discover a genetic link, and sometimes a clear cause is never determined. “There is no specific risk factor, though there is a genetic predisposition in some families,” said Ronald Davis, M.D., MPH, FAAP, pediatric neurologist and practice medical director at Pediatrix® Neurology and Epilepsy of Florida. “A rare metabolic disorder called Glut-1 deficiency syndrome can cause resistant absence and should be tested for as well.”

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