Absence seizures

[Mann999]

5 year old autistic child staring into space if i call his name wont respond. Dad have epilepsy. Dr said video required but it happpens all of sudden and happens for 10-15 seconds. Very hard to take video .does anyone else child does this staring please?

Hi Op, I have experience of this - my DS had suspected absent seizures. It turns out he has intense daydreams (I have them, as does my dad). I would insist that your GP refer you to the paediatrician and ask that they do an EEG. I don’t know if it was just my Gp, but he took my word for it and arranged the referral to the paediatricians who agreed to do the EEG.

Is your DS in school? Has he had episodes there? If so, I would ask them to write a brief report of when it happens / what does your DS do / how is he after an episode and then take that to the GP. I never was able to film my DS’s, but it was witnessed by his teacher and we had personal experience at home of these blank episodes. If your DS does have epilepsy, or suffers with silent seizures, they will usually be able to tell by the EEG.

Good luck

Hi dear thanks for your support. My son in school and teacher told me it happened today in school. My husband is epileptic and on med. Thats why am so worried and taking him to paed tom . Thank you

My son had what our GP suspected was absence seizures/epilepsy when he was around 12/13 years old. We did a few more tests and it turned out that it was due to low iron levels. He took an iron supplement and the vacant staring episodes stopped. I thought I would mention this just in case this could be another cause you could investigate

Thank you so much. I would get that tested as well.