childhood absence epilepsy


child·hood ab·sence ep·i·lep·sy

[MIM*600131] a generalized epilepsy syndrome characterized by the onset of absence seizures in childhood, typically at age 6 or 7 years. There is a strong genetic predisposition and girls are affected more often than boys. EEG reveals generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave activity on a normal background. Prognosis for remission is good if the patient does not also have generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
See also: absence. Synonym(s): petit mal epilepsy, pyknoelepsy

child·hood ab·sence ep·i·lep·sy

(chīld'hud ab'sĕns epi-lep-sē) A generalized epilepsy syndrome characterized by the onset of absence seizures in childhood, typically at age 6 or 7 years. There is a strong genetic predisposition and girls are affected more often than boys. Electroencephalograms reveal generalized 3-Hz spike-wave activity on a normal background. Prognosis for remission is good if the patient does not also have generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
See also: absence