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Clinical features of benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis in Chinese infants

Yun-Feng Wang1, Zhong-Shu Zhou

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China. wangyf252@126.com

World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP
|January 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis are common in Chinese infants, often linked to rotavirus infection. These seizures, typically brief and generalized, do not impact long-term development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis are a recognized clinical entity globally.
  • This condition has not been widely acknowledged by pediatricians in China.
  • Gastroenteritis-associated seizures in infants require further investigation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics and prevalence of benign convulsions in infants with mild gastroenteritis in China.
  • To identify potential causative agents, such as rotavirus, associated with these seizures.
  • To evaluate the response to anticonvulsant therapy in affected infants.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study analyzed data from 48 pediatric patients experiencing convulsions between 2004 and 2009.
  • Patient demographics, seizure characteristics, and gastroenteritis onset were recorded.
  • Stool cultures were performed to detect viral pathogens, including rotavirus.

Main Results:

  • The majority of patients (70.83%) were aged 13-24 months, with seizures peaking in autumn/winter and within the first 2-3 days of gastroenteritis.
  • Most seizures were generalized tonic-clonic, brief, and clustered (72.92%), sometimes triggered by pain or crying.
  • Rotavirus was detected in 53.85% of tested patients, and some infants experienced persistent seizures despite anticonvulsant treatment. All patients showed normal psychomotor development.

Conclusions:

  • Benign convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis are not rare in China.
  • Rotavirus infection is identified as a significant cause of these seizures.
  • The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and diagnostic focus on this condition among Chinese pediatricians.
Abstract

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