Childhood Absence Epilepsy

Background

• Usually in children between 3 and 10 years old
• Most around 5-6 years old when the first absence seizure was seen
• 1 in 15.000-50.000 children
• Siblings of children with Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) have about a 1 in 10 chance of developing epilepsy.

Clinic

• Staring spells during which the child is not aware or responsive
• Eyes may roll up briefly or the eyes may blink.
• Sometimes repetitive movements like mouth chewing.
• Usually the absence last for around 10 seconds and ends abruptly
• After the seizure the child resumes normal activity
• Could be provoked by hyperventilation

EEG

• Inter-ictal: Normal posterior rhythm, though with frequent rhythmic posterior delta activity
• Ictal: Generalized Spike slow wave complex of 3 Hz
• Hyperventilation triggers an absence seizure in over 80% of children with Childhood Absence Epilepsy.

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Childhood absence epilepsy in a 4,5 year old girl, with typical generalized 3 Hz spike wave complexes (source)

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