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[Benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis: a clinical analysis and follow-up study]
Chao-Chao Xue1, Ya-Feng Liang, Guo-Quan Pan
1Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China. wzlichch@21cn.com.
Insights
Benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE) typically affect children aged 1-2 years. These seizures are usually brief and generalized, with BICE rarely progressing to epilepsy and demonstrating a good long-term prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE) are a specific type of childhood seizure disorder.
- Understanding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of BICE is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical features of BICE.
- To evaluate the long-term prognosis and social function in children with BICE.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 436 children diagnosed with BICE.
- Follow-up study of 206 children for 1.5 to 7 years.
- Assessment of long-term social function using the Weiss Functional Defect Scale.
Main Results:
- BICE predominantly affects children aged 13-24 months, with a higher incidence from September to February.
- Seizures are typically generalized tonic-clonic, short-lived (<5 minutes), and occur within 24 hours of illness onset, sometimes in clusters.
- Electroencephalographic results were normal in most followed children, and long-term social function was comparable to healthy peers.
Conclusions:
- BICE is most common in 1-2 year olds, presenting as transient generalized or clustered seizures.
- The condition rarely leads to epilepsy and is associated with a favorable prognosis.
- Children with BICE exhibit normal intelligence and social functioning in the long term.
Objective:
To study the clinical features and prognosis of benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE).
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 436 children with BICE, and among these children, 206 were followed up for 1.5 to 7 years. Some parents were invited to complete the Weiss Functional Defect Scale to evaluate the long-term social function.
Results:
The peak age of onset of BICE was 13-24 months, and BICE had a higher prevalence rate in September to February of the following year. Convulsions mainly manifested as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which often occurred within 24 hours after disease onset and lasted for less than 5 minutes each time. Sometimes they occurred in clusters. During the follow-up of 206 children, only one had epileptiform discharge, and the other children had normal electroencephalographic results. The parents of all the 206 children thought their children had normal intelligence and had no marked changes in character. Based on the Weiss Functional Defect Scale completed by the parents of some BICE children, there was no significant difference in the long-term social function between BICE children and healthy children matched by age and sex.
Conclusions:
BICE mainly occurs in children aged 1-2 years, with the manifestation of transient generalized seizures in most children and cluster seizures in some children. BICE seldom progresses to epilepsy and has good prognosis.
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