Can absence seizures occur without a diagnosis of epilepsy?

Absence seizures are brief episodes where a person seems to "stare off into space" and are commonly associated with epilepsy. However, they can sometimes happen without a formal diagnosis of epilepsy.

• Understanding Absence Seizures: These are usually short, lasting only a few seconds, and the person may not be aware it happened. They can be mistaken for daydreaming or not paying attention.

• Epilepsy Connection: Typically, absence seizures are part of epilepsy, a condition where someone has repeated seizures. But not everyone who has an absence seizure has epilepsy.

• Other Causes: Other conditions like hyperventilation can cause episodes that look like absence seizures but are not due to epilepsy.

In summary, while absence seizures often indicate epilepsy, there are instances where they occur independently, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation by a healthcare professional.