What is absence epilepsy?

Childhood absence epilepsy develops between ages 4 and 10. It causes very brief absence seizures that may include staring into space, eye fluttering, and slight muscle jerks.

Juvenile absence epilepsy develops between ages 10 and 17 and causes similar seizures. Many children with juvenile absence epilepsy have generalized tonic-clonic seizures as well.

Both childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy tend to run in families. These types of epilepsy usually respond well to drug therapy.