Absence Seizure: Diagnosis & Tests (Petit Mal Seizure)

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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Absence Seizure: Diagnosis & Tests
Category : Health Centers > Brain and Nervous System

Absence Seizure

Alternate Names : Petit Mal Seizure

Absence Seizure | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

How is the condition diagnosed?

Diagnosis of epilepsy begins with a medical history and physical exam. The healthcare provider will ask about contributing illnesses or injuries. An electroencephalogram, or EEG, will be ordered. An EEG measures electrical activity within the brain. If a seizure occurs during the EEG, the abnormal activity can be detected. A normal EEG does not rule out seizures. Other tests that may be ordered include:

blood tests to look for diseases or conditions causing the seizures

cranial CT scan to look for abnormalities in the brain

cranial MRI to provide a closer look at brain structures

positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to identify the abnormal brain area

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Absence Seizure: Symptoms & Signs		Absence Seizure: Prevention & Expectations

Author: Tamara Miller, MD
Reviewer: Karen Preston, PHN, MS, CRRN
Date Reviewed: 05/31/01

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