Clinical features of benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis

The aim of this study is to reveal the detailed clinical features of benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG). We studied 114 consecutive episodes in 105 patients with CwG between January 1995 and March 2000. CwG was defined as when a patient met the following two conditions: (a) seizures accompanied the symptoms of gastroenteritis without clinical signs of dehydration or electrolyte derangement and (b) the body temperature remained less than 38.0 degrees C before and after the seizures. Patients with meningitis, encephalitis/encephalopathy or apparent history of epilepsy were excluded. The age of onset ranged from 8 to 52 months (mean, 21.1 +/- 8.4 months). Six patients (6%) had a family history of afebrile convulsions and seven (7%) had one of febrile convulsions. The average interval between the onset of gastroenteritis and that of seizures was 2.3 +/- 1.1 days (range, 1-6 days). The average number of seizures during a single episode was 2.6 +/- 1.5 (range, 1-7). Two or more seizures occurred in 86 (75%) of the 114 episodes. Seizures induced by pain and/or crying were seen in 35 (43%) of 82 episodes. Antiepileptic drugs were administered for 96 episodes. Seizures did not cease after the administration of one kind of antiepileptic drug in 56 episodes (58%). Epilepsy developed in none of the patients. All patients exhibited normal psychomotor development. CwG is characterized by a cluster of seizures that are sometimes induced by pain and/or crying. The seizures are rather refractory to antiepileptic treatment, although the seizure and development outcomes are good.