What is it?

Absence Epilepsy, or petit Mal Status, is a type of epilepsy that consists of very short seizures with almost unnoticeable symptoms. These seizures last less than 20 seconds and while having it, it seems as if the person is having a daydream. It is most common in children between the ages of 4-12 but can also happen in adults. During an absence seizure, the brain gets repeated electrical signals. There is a genetic contribution in absence, probably linked to mutations in ion channels.