petit mal
Pronunciation: peh-TEE MAHL
An outdated term for absence seizures, characterized by brief episodes of impaired consciousness without convulsive movements.
Full Definition
Petit mal is a historical term that has been largely replaced by the more precise terminology "absence seizure" in modern clinical practice. These seizures typically last 5-20 seconds and involve sudden onset and offset of impaired consciousness, often with subtle motor manifestations such as eyelid fluttering or lip smacking. The International League Against Epilepsy now discourages the use of "petit mal" in favor of the more descriptive "absence seizure" classification. Editors should recognize this term in older literature while understanding that current medical writing favors the updated terminology to avoid confusion with other seizure types.
Usage
Usage note: This term is considered outdated; editors should suggest replacement with "absence seizure" in contemporary medical writing.
In Context
- "Historical records described the episodes as petit mal seizures, though modern classification would term these absence seizures." — Medical history review
- "The patient's brief staring spells were initially mischaracterized as petit mal but were later identified as complex partial seizures." — Case report revision