A 7-year-old boy is performing poorly in school. His teacher is frustrated because he is frequently seen "staring off into space" and not paying attention. If this is a seizure, it most likely represents which type?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a common description and scenario for absence seizures. These are generally brief (less than 10 seconds, "petit mal"). These generally occur without warning and generally do not have a post-ictal confused state. Pseudoseizures are difficult to diagnose but generally involve dramatic-appearing movements, similar to tonic-clonic seizures. Myoclonus represents a single brief jerk of the trunk and limbs.

A 7-Year-Old Boy Is Performing Poorly in School