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Benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis: a multicenter clinical study

Alberto Verrotti1, Giuliana Nanni, Sergio Agostinelli

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. averrott@unich.it

Epilepsy Research
|December 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) in Italian children rarely recur or lead to epilepsy. This diagnosis helps avoid unnecessary evaluations and treatments, reassuring parents about long-term outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Gastroenteritis is a common childhood illness.
  • Convulsions can occur in children with gastroenteritis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) in Italian children.
  • To determine the long-term prognosis of CwG.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 128 Italian children diagnosed with CwG were studied.
  • Clinical and EEG data were collected during hospitalization and followed for at least 12 months.
  • Data were gathered from 14 Italian centers between January 2004 and February 2008.

Main Results:

  • The age of onset for CwG ranged from 6 to 60 months.
  • Seizure types included generalized (57%), focal (12.5%), and secondarily generalized (30.5%).
  • Most seizures were brief (<5 min in 75.8%), and 57% of children experienced 2 or more seizures within 24-48 hours. Antiepileptic drugs were used in 56.3% during the acute phase. While 21.9% had EEG abnormalities, they normalized over time. Long-term follow-up showed recurrence of CwG in 4.7%, simple febrile seizures in 5.5%, and epilepsy in 2.3% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • Recognizing CwG in children is crucial for pediatricians.
  • This recognition aids in avoiding extensive evaluations and prolonged antiepileptic drug therapy.
  • It allows for parental reassurance regarding the absence of long-term complications.
Abstract

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