Absence crisis: would you know how to identify them?, this is the final sentence of one of the videos that the Convulsions application incorporates to understand epilepsy a little more. And the truth, I realized that I wouldn't know, that's why I set out to learn a little more about them.
From what I understand, the videos are produced by Purple Day, an organization that - in turn - has given permission to the Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital, to be able to incorporate them as content in 'Convulsions'. Although the one you will see, it is distributed by The Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education.
I have discovered that these absences, they begin for the first time in childhood (Some documents consulted indicate that they are more common between the ages of six and 12), and that although they are likely to disappear into adulthood, there are people who continue to live with them. They are associated with 'primary generalized epilepsy'; Y they should never be confused with that 'get lost in thoughts' that children can afford more than us.
What is an absence crisis?
We can understand it if we imagine electric shocks that happen at the same time in both lateral hemispheres of the brain, they can occur up to 30 times over a day, although if an early and accurate diagnosis is achieved, the prognosis is good. These alterations of brain function 'disconnect' the child from the environment, and are manifested by fixed and absent gaze.
The child is also paralyzed for a few moments, stopping talking and doing other things they might be doing. It is not always the family that first detects them, however for a teacher a crisis of absence may go unnoticed or be confused by a mistake.
Within the absence of movements, it is also possible that very light movements of the mouth, eyelids or face. The duration is seconds, but they are enough for the person who knows the child well to be alarmed. Once the brain activity is restarted normally, the person begins again with the activity that he had left.
These epilepsies account for between five and 10 percent of those that begin in school or preschool age
Evolution of absence crises
There is a need for a correct diagnosis to be established, and if the parents or the school have suspicion, and the healthcare professional does not clarify the situation, it seems clear that a second medical opinion should be sought. I understand that the pediatrician will refer the neurologist, and from there the treatment will be scheduled.
As I read, the specific medication works well; but all the sources I've consulted agree that If these children are not properly cared for, the prognosis will be worse. Although in general they involve more risk other epileptic seizures, including seizures, and during which the child is at risk of being damaged by fall or lack of attention.
The daily life of children with absence crisis
The gaps produced by the large number of episodes that occur throughout the day, are noted in the child's performance; and here the teacher is very important, since if he is able to recognize the absence crisis, the correct medical diagnosis will be easier, and therefore the treatment.
In the Chilean League of Epilepsy, they indicate that these crises can be confused with an ADHD, but they are certainly different because despite the 'disconnections', these last seconds and after them the activity resumes.
In these cases there are usually no seizures, but for cases where they do occur, it is essential to know how to react, namely:
Keep calm and gently lay the person on the floor, protecting the head with clothes or cushions placed underneath.
Do not try to hold or resuscitate the affected. Nor introduce objects in your mouth (the tongue is not swallowed even if we have heard about it).
The patient should remain on his side, and if possible with open clothing (unbuttoned).
If the crisis lasts more than five minutes or is repetitive, medical attention is necessary.
After the seizures, the patient needs calm and to be reoriented, helping him to get home.
Conclusion: absence crises are not misleading, nor the product of bad behavior; but episodes of 'disconnection' involuntary that alter the development of the child. And therefore it is necessary to know how to identify, and recognize, to act accordingly.
