May also be called: Petit Mal Seizure An absence seizure is a type of epileptic seizure that causes people to briefly become unaware of what's happening around them and stare ahead without moving, appearing "absent." More to Know Absence seizures affect children more than adults and may be associated with other types of seizures. There is no known cause for absence seizures, but they do tend to run in families. Like all seizures, they're the result of abnormal electrical or chemical activity in the brain. Hyperventilation or flashing lights may be triggers, but there may be no such identifiable triggers. Absence seizures happen without warning, usually last less than 15 seconds, and can occur multiple times a day. Because they can be misinterpreted as daydreaming or lack of attention, they can be difficult to diagnose. They can be very disruptive to a student's learning in the classroom and dangerous during certain activities like swimming. In addition to a sudden stop in movement and awareness, people who experience an absence seizure may make chewing motions, flutter their eyelids, smack their lips, or fumble with their hands. Following the seizure, the person will immediately return to an alert state and have no memory of the episode. Keep in Mind While absence seizures can be disturbing, many anti-seizure medications are available to significantly reduce the occurrence of seizures or even eliminate them. In addition, many kids and teens outgrow these seizures as they reach adulthood. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Brain and Nervous System The brain controls everything we do, and is often likened to the central computer within a vast, complicated communication network, working at lightning speed. Read More Epilepsy It comes from a Greek word meaning "to hold or seize," and seizures are what happen to people with epilepsy. Learn more about epilepsy in this article written just for kids. Read More Epilepsy Epilepsy causes electrical signals in the brain to misfire, which can lead to multiple seizures. Anyone can get epilepsy at any age, but most new diagnoses are in kids. Read More Epilepsy Seizures are a common symptom of epilepsy, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Learn all about epilepsy, including what to do if you see someone having a seizure. Read More Seizures Seizures are caused by a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. Find out what you need to know about seizures and what to do if your child has one. Read More Word! Seizure You might hear a seizure called a convulsion, fit, or spell. Read More A to Z: Seizure, Tonic-Clonic A tonic-clonic seizure (also called a grand mal seizure) is a sudden attack that brings on intense muscle spasms and loss of consciousness. It is caused by abnormal brain activity and affects the entire body. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.