Typical absence seizures of childhood absence epilepsy (3)

A lengthy typical seizure of childhood absence epilepsy, lasting over 20 seconds, with abrupt onset and termination. The seizure occurred during hyperventilation with breath counting. The patient suddenly stopped counting and opened her eyes within 2 seconds of the onset of the discharge. There were marked, mainly perioral, automatisms. The child remains unresponsive from the onset of the initial to the onset of the terminal phase of the discharge. However, she is able to understand the technologist during the terminal phase when the ictal discharge is waning out. (Contributed by Dr. C P Panayiotopoulos).