Juvenile absence epilepsy
• Presentation:
- Age: around puberty
- Seizures types:
* Absence seizures
* Not as frequent as childhood absence epilepsy
* Triggers:
- Hyperventilation
- Less frequently: sleep deprivation and photic stimulation
• Diagnosis:
- On EEG: 3Hz generalized spike-wave discharges
• Causes:
- Genetic causes: 11% family history of epilepsy
• Prognosis: 85% controlled. 15% require more than one AED
• Treatment: Zarontin, Depakote, Lamictal, Keppra