A 9-year-old boy exhibits episodes of inattention and blank stare. These are best described as which type of seizures?

A 9-year-old boy exhibits episodes of inattention and blank stare. These are best described as which type of seizures?

• A. Focal
• B. Tonic-clonic
• C. Absence
• D. Myoclonic

Answer: (C)

The episodes of inattention and blank stare exhibited by the 9-year-old boy are characteristic of absence seizures. These seizures are a type of generalized seizure that typically occur in children and are often marked by a brief loss of awareness. During an absence seizure, the individual may appear to stare blankly into space for a few seconds, and this can happen multiple times a day. What distinguishes absence seizures is their sudden onset and the fact that they do not involve convulsions or postictal confusion like other types of seizures. Instead, the child may seem to "zone out" and then quickly return to normal activity, often with no memory of the event afterward. This specific pattern of behavior, along with the age of the child, aligns well with the characteristics of absence seizures, making it the correct answer.

The episodes of inattention and blank stare exhibited by the 9-year-old boy are characteristic of absence seizures. These seizures are a type of generalized seizure that typically occur in children and are often marked by a brief loss of awareness. During an absence seizure, the individual may appear to stare blankly into space for a few seconds, and this can happen multiple times a day.

What distinguishes absence seizures is their sudden onset and the fact that they do not involve convulsions or postictal confusion like other types of seizures. Instead, the child may seem to "zone out" and then quickly return to normal activity, often with no memory of the event afterward. This specific pattern of behavior, along with the age of the child, aligns well with the characteristics of absence seizures, making it the correct answer.