What is the most appropriate diagnosis for a child exhibiting blank stares lasting 10-20 seconds and unresponsiveness?

The most appropriate diagnosis for a child exhibiting blank stares lasting 10-20 seconds and unresponsiveness is absence seizure. Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, are characterized by brief episodes of staring and unresponsiveness that typically last only a few seconds to about 20 seconds. During these episodes, the child may appear to be daydreaming or lost in thought and does not respond to external stimuli.

This aligns with the symptoms described: the child has blank stares and shows unresponsiveness, which fits perfectly with the nature of absence seizures. These seizures are often subtle and can sometimes go unnoticed, particularly in younger children, who might not be able to articulate their experience.

It's crucial to differentiate absence seizures from other types of seizures. Complex febrile seizures are usually associated with fever and prolonged convulsions rather than unresponsiveness with blank stares. Simple febrile seizures are brief, typically less than 15 minutes, and involve generalized convulsions rather than a period of staring. Partial seizures involve localized activity in the brain and may include physical symptoms or awareness changes, which do not fit the scenario of a child simply staring blankly and being unresponsive.

Thus, given the nature of the child's symptoms