Topic: Absence Seizures
Subject: Medicine
The treatment of choice for absence seizures is:

Absence seizures (formerly called petit mal) consist of 10 to 30 second loss of consciousness with eyelid fluttering; axial muscle tone may or may not be lost. Patients do not fall or convulse; they abruptly stop activity, then just as abruptly resume it, with no postictal symptoms or knowledge that a seizure has occurred. Absence seizures are genetic and occur predominantly in children. Without treatment, such seizures are likely to occur many times a day. Seizures often occur when patients are sitting quietly, can be precipitated by hyperventilation, and rarely occur during exercise. Atypical absence seizures last longer, are accompanied by more pronounced jerking or automatic movements, and cause less complete loss of awareness. Treatment is with ethosuximide and also with valproic acid.