What is CAE

What is CAE

Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE), also known as Petit Mal or epilepsy with "staring spells", is one of the most common epilepsies in children.

Usually beginning between 3 to 9 years of age, seizures occur many times per day, and generally consist of staring, unresponsiveness, and loss of awareness.

Each episode typically lasts between 1 to 15 seconds, but can sometimes continue for 30 seconds or more. Eye blinking and rolling, and/or hand movements occasionally accompany these staring spells. CAE is usually well controlled by anti-epileptic medications.

Roughly 70% of children with Childhood Absence Epilepsy outgrow the symptoms by adulthood, and most see a rapid decline in the number of seizures by the age of puberty.

While relatively harmless in comparison to some other types of epilepsy, CAE can affect the child's ability to concentrate and pay attention. For this reason, teachers are often the first to notice the affected child's symptoms.

The Cause of CAE is Unknown