petit mal /pe·tit mal/ (pĕ-te´ mahl´) [Fr.] see under epilepsy.
petit mal
pet·it mal (p t  mäl, m l)n. A form of epilepsy, occurring most often in adolescents and children, characterized by frequent but transient lapses of consciousness and only rare spasms or falling. Also called absence, petit mal epilepsy. |
petit mal
a relatively mild seizure contrasting with grand mal, a major seizure. Occurs in humans where the patient loses consciousness only momentarily and there are few motor signs. True petit mal seizures would be difficult to detect, but probably do occur occasionally in animals. See also seizure.
petit mal
Absence Neurology A spell characterized by lapse of attention and awareness, with loss of recall, without convulsions or loss consciousness. Cf Grand mal seizure; psychomotor epilepsy.
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