Final answer:
Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, are a type of generalized seizure that primarily affects children. They are characterized by a sudden loss of awareness or consciousness that lasts for a few seconds to half a minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, are a type of generalized seizure that primarily affects children. They are characterized by a sudden loss of awareness or consciousness that lasts for a few seconds to half a minute.
During these seizures, the person may appear to be staring blankly into space and may exhibit subtle movements such as blinking or lip-smacking.
Absence seizures typically occur multiple times a day and can disrupt a person's daily activities and learning.
They are more common in children and often improve or disappear with age.
The exact cause of absence seizures is not known, but they are believed to be related to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.