Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
10:49

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus

Published on: January 28, 2019

Comparison between febrile and afebrile seizures associated with mild rotavirus gastroenteritis

Ben Kang1, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Jin Hong

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, 400-711, Republic of Korea.

Seizure
|May 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Febrile and afebrile seizures linked to rotavirus gastroenteritis in children show distinct characteristics but share a generally positive outcome. Most children with these seizures did not require long-term epilepsy treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is a common cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
  • Seizures can occur in children with RVGE, presenting as either febrile seizures (FS) or afebrile seizures (AFS).
  • Understanding the differences and prognoses of FS and AFS in the context of RVGE is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and compare the characteristics of febrile seizures (FS) and afebrile seizures (AFS) in pediatric patients with mild rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE).
  • To analyze demographic, clinical, laboratory, EEG, and neuroimaging findings between seizure and non-seizure groups.
  • To evaluate the need for antiepileptic treatment and the long-term prognosis for children experiencing seizures associated with RVGE.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients admitted for RVGE between July 1999 and June 2011.
  • Patients were categorized into three groups: no seizure (NS), febrile seizure (FS), and afebrile seizure (AFS).
  • Comparative analysis of clinical characteristics, laboratory results, EEG, brain MRI, treatment, and prognosis was performed.

Main Results:

  • Among 755 patients, 90.3% had no seizures, 2.2% had FS, and 5.5% had AFS.
  • FS group had shorter duration of gastrointestinal symptoms before seizure onset (1.3 days) compared to AFS group (2.8 days).
  • AFS group showed a higher frequency of single seizure attacks and focal seizures; however, all patients in FS and AFS groups had favorable outcomes without epilepsy development.

Conclusions:

  • Febrile seizures and afebrile seizures associated with mild rotavirus gastroenteritis exhibit specific differences in seizure patterns and preceding symptoms.
  • Despite these distinctions, both types of seizures are predominantly benign in the pediatric population.
  • A favorable prognosis is observed for children experiencing seizures related to mild RVGE, with no need for long-term antiepileptic treatment or development of epilepsy.
Abstract

Keywords:
Benign convulsion with mild gastroenteritisBenign infantile seizureFebrile seizure

More Related Videos

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy06:58

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
Patterns of Fever01:26

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...