What is "absence seizure"

n. (context medicine English) A type of seizure indicative of petit mal epilepsy. Brief seizure lasting up to 30 seconds involving vacantness and lack of awareness, possibly including twitching; not including spasm or unconsciousness.

Absence seizures are one of several kinds of seizures. These seizures are sometimes referred to as petit mal seizures (from the French for "little illness", a term dating from the late 18th century). Absence seizures are characterized by a brief loss and return of consciousness, generally not followed by a period of lethargy (without a notable postictal state).