petit mal
GENERALIZED SEIZURE CHARACTERIZED BY A BRIEF LOSS AND RETURN OF CONSCIOUSNESS, GENERALLY NOT FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF LETHARGY
Petit mal seizure; Petit mal; Absence epilepsy; Epilepsy juvenile absence; Pyknolepsy; Epilepsy, absence; Absence seizures; Petit mal epilepsy; Juvenile absence epilepsy; Absence attack; Petit mal status; Absent seizure
[mal]
¦
noun a mild form of epilepsy characterized by brief spells of unconsciousness without loss of posture. Compare with
grand mal.
Origin
C19: from Fr., lit. 'little sickness'.