Juvenile absence epilepsy

General paediatrics, Neurology

Quite different from childhood absence epilepsy! Less nice.

  • Rare
  • Onset 9-12 years but occasionally younger.
  • Non-remitting, despite the name
  • Longer absences eg 45 seconds, more frequent
  • Automatisms (eg eye flickering, lip smacking), may be able to continue some automatic activities during absence
  • Occasional tonic clonic seizures, myoclonic jerks despite the name! But much less commonly seen than in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).
  • Not photosensitive cf JME.
  • Treat with valproate, ethosuximide (unless tonic clonic seizures), or lamotrigine.