Question

You are called to assist a 40-year-old patient with seizure activity per the caller. On arrival, your patient appears to be conscious but only stares straight ahead without a response. Family states this is the same seizure activity the patient normally experiences, but today they would like him transported for evaluation at the hospital. What is this type of seizure activity called?

A - Tonic/Clonic Seizures
B - Absence seizures
C - Focal motor seizures
D - Febrile

Answer 1

The described seizure activity in which the patient stares blankly and does not respond, yet remains conscious, is most consistent with absence seizures.

Step-by-step explanation

The type of seizure activity the patient is experiencing, where they appear conscious but are unresponsive and stare straight ahead, is called Absence seizure.Abscence seizures are a type of generalized seizure that typically lasts for a few seconds and may cause a brief loss of awareness or consciousness.

Absence seizures are different from Tonic/Clonic Seizures (also known as grand mal seizures) where there is loss of consciousness, stiffening of the body, and movements. They are also different from Focal motor seizures which involve abnormal movements in a specific part of the body without loss of consciousness.