Consumer Reports Health - Brain & nervous system - Absence seizures in children

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How common are absence seizures?

Absence seizures aren't common.

Less than 1 in 1,000 children under 15 get absence seizures.¹

Girls are more likely to be affected than boys.¹ ²

Sources for the information on this page:

Arzimanoglou A, Guerrini R, Aicardi J. Epilepsies with typical absence seizures. In: Aicardi's epilepsy in children (3rd edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott, 2003.

Michelucchi R, Tassinari CA. Childhood absence epilepsy. In: Wallace S (editor). Epilepsy in children. Arnold, London, UK; 2004.

This information was last updated in Mar 11, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.