Which type of seizure typically occurs during childhood and adolescence but rarely continues into adulthood?

Absence seizures are a type of generalized seizure that typically occur in children and adolescents and often resolve by adulthood. These seizures are characterized by brief episodes of impaired awareness, during which the individual may appear to be staring blankly or may experience very short lapses in attention.

The prevalence of absence seizures is most common in childhood, especially in the context of childhood absence epilepsy, which usually begins between the ages of 4 and 10. As children grow, many outgrow these seizures, and they seldom continue into adulthood. This characteristic makes absence seizures distinct compared to other types, such as tonic-clonic or myoclonic seizures, which can persist into adulthood and have different implications for long-term management and lifestyle.

Focal seizures, while they can occur during childhood, often have different manifestations and can continue into adulthood depending on the underlying conditions. Thus, absence seizures stand out as a seizure type primarily associated with and resolved by the time individuals reach adulthood.